Iron County news. [volume] (Hurley, Wis.) 1913-1950, 1924-10-18
Caring For Million
and a Half Tourists
Executive Secretary of Minnesota
Association Gives Some Facts
About the Tourist Traffic.

One of the most interesting talks
at the annual session of the Tri-
state Development Congress held at
Ashland Wednesday and Thursday
was given by H. c. Hotaling, execu-
tive secretary of the Ten Thousand
Lakes of Minnesota association, on
the subject Caring for the Tourist. 4"
He spoke as follows
More than a million dollars has
been expended during the past few
years by the citizens of Wisconsin,
Michigan and Minnesota in order to
attract the tourist to this section of
the country, to focus his eyes on the
lake district of America. This is a
large amount of money. 1t is an
investment that must be carefully
guarded in order that proper returns
are secured from the money which
has already been expended, to say
nothing Of the amounts which will be
expended in the future The ques-
tion therefore arises, what can we
do to guard and protect this great in
vestment? And the answer comes
back, first: by taking proper care Of
the tourist; second: by making the
stranger welcome while visiting our
respective districts; third: by max
ing him feel so much at home that he
will want to come back again: and,
lastly: by giving him as little cause
for complaint as possible. 1t is a
mistake to take advantage Of the
stranger, especially in charging him
more for the commodities which he
has to purchase than would be
charged to any other consumer.
Speaking conservatively, a million
and half tourists have visited the
three states, represented in this con
vention during the past five months.
The benefit of this traffic is manifest
in the fact that they expended dur
ing the time they were with US at
least $4,000, 600 To show that
these figures are conservative, let
us analyze them, using the basis Of
the State Highway Department Of
Minnesota, which, with its great
force of employees, makes a census
each year in every part Of the state
to determine the number Of strangers
within Minnesota's gates. On the
basis Of a million and a half visitors
for these three states, we are in
reality only figuring 10000 for each
day-3,333 for each state per day,
which is certainly not an eXtravagant
number. In fact, it is far below the
actual figure, as can be conclusively
shown. For instance, Minnesota has
SO counties, Michigan "a, Wisconsin
70, total for the three states of
240 counties. Thus 10000 visitors
for these three states means an
average Of less than AZ each day for
each county. Why, if a census
were to be taken the coolest day
next January, where is the county
that would not reveal the presence
Of at least double that number Of
visitors from without the state?
The insiguificance Of these figures
becomes more apparent when one
takes into consideration the great
commercial centers in these three
states, places ike Detroit, Mil
waukee, Minneapolis, 6 Paul,
Duluth. where more than that num-
Der can be found airy day at almost
any leading hotel.
But let's 90 on with the analysis.
The highway statistician figures out
that Of every 10000 figures two
thirds stay with friends or camp out
at a cost Of g per day for each per-
son; and one-third stopped at hotels
at a cost Of IS per day for room and
meals. expending thereby $29,997
daily. That they expended for iu-
cidentals 2100 each, making another
$4,000. This same man Of figur e.
contends that each car averages $50
miles per day and would consume
ten gallons Of gasoline and one quart
Of oil which would mean approx
mately $500 more, not taking one