Evening star., 1925-07-05
WILLIAM EDMUND CHRISTIAN

| HE Washington tourist camp
ers will. it is estimated. spend
this season in Washington
Il over 60 per cent more than
they did last year
This is based upon the expectation
Of half million dollars of expenditure
this season, as against $500 900 last
season.
These are the figures given by A. ]
Montgomery, one of the officials Of the
American Automobile Association
After a careful canvass of the situa-
tton, this estimate seemed on the
whole, too conservative. But 1t is i'm
possible for any estimate to represent
certainty
For the country over, it is estimated
by the same authority, two and a half
billions of dollars will be spent.
SIX million tourists, as Il grand total.
according To expert figures. will move
this season.
No method has, as yet. been found
10 make any estimate mathematically
exact and beyond doubt. The problem
is too elusive. 1t is somewhat sug-
Eesttve of catching at a scattering
drift-cloud. II cannot be grasped.
The making of a sure total of such
movement must always be hindered
by the variable elements of personal
caprice, weather, leisure. money-and
countless other intangibleS that enter
into situation obscured by the
tangled VastnesS of this country and
the restlessneSs of its people. Six mil
lions are the figures of John c. Long
IN eminent authority of the National
Auto Chamber of Commerce. Further
more, these figures have the ok. of
\. j. Montgomery. the Care-taking ex-
port of the American Automobile AS
SoCiation. His estimate is based upon
the preparations which have been
made for the routing this season of
100000 automobiles.
Human beings are not entirely un-
like wild fowls of the air in their mi
Grations. These migrations, though
sometimes puzzling and seemingly
aimless to man~, have, nevertheless. a
never ceasing, persistent, rational ba-
sis.
I ASKED Mr.. Montgomery concern
ing the to-and-fro emergings OF
the people from the hooks and cram
MES Of the hills and valleys and plains
Of this country-going and coming, so
busily. everywhere, it would seem,
with this new device called the auto
mobile.
Is there any common law at work,
l asked Mr.. Montgomery. in the hith-
er-and-yon migrations of these tour
ists?"
II will answer that" he replied with
studied Clearness, by saying that
there are two lines of traffic in Win
ter:
First from New England and the
Illinois Valley indicating the flow of
the Mississippi. over the main lines
leading TO Florida and the Gulf Coast.
This traffic has spilled over into Flor
ida, and is now assuming such pro
portions that the Southern States,
other than Florida, are developing into
touring centers- notably the Gulf
States, including Mississippi and North
Carolina. with lanes going and coming
through Pinehurst, Asheville and kin
dred points.
Second, the other line Of traffic
from the same sources-across the
Mississippi TO California.
These are the two big movements
in Winter.
with the approach of the Summer
months" he continued, the current
of traffic is realized as a distinct
northern movement-with three cen
ters of distribution, all three highly
competitive. These three are:
"(a) The New England States, from
Connecticut to Maine.
"Cbl The Great Lakes region. in
cludinG Summer resorts of Michigan,
Minnesota and Wisconsin.
"(cl The Northwest. which is real
ly one of the growing hubs of Summer
touring in America. This hub in
cludes Colorado, Oregon and the State
of Washington, with Denver as a gate
way into this region. In recent years,
# would seem, this territory has
gained in appeal to tourists.
The development of good roads, of
course. has also had an important
hearing on tourist migration. AS an
indication of this, / need only note the
development in North Carolina and
the Southeast in general
appeal of the Shenandoah Valley of
Virginia and the Southeast; also the
Northwestern area. now accessible.
"As result of this newly recog
nized attraction of the Shenandoah
Valley, Virginia is waking up. The
failure of Virginia in this regard has
hitherto hindered and blocked the
tourists out from the wonderful Shen-
andOah region.
also is waking up to see that she, too,
must get busy"
THE writer here interrupted: You
l. spoke. Mr.. Montgomery. of tlorl-
ia and California. Can you give me
the proportions of these movements
last year?
Yes. One million tourists went to
Florida last season and l,0O0,Oo0 10
California. and California is now
making preparations for more.
These tourists have the choice OF
1000 motor camps and $4,000 hotels,
from which the assurance has been
given that the overnight tourist VIII
be lodged and housed at a reasonable
cost. This means that roads, points,
hotels and camp sites are being buslly
knit together for his well being and
the growth of all his tribe.
Account here is not taken of the
new settlers. new investors, Of un-
looked-for and profitable results from
the stranger looking upon new places
and seeing to his own satisfaction
that they are good, or, to him, better
than those whence he has hailed
Attention also should be drawn to
the social elbow touch of the people
(and its developing intiuence) who be-
come adjusted TO one another during
the SwarminG season Of these busy
honey bees of the road. For in their
case money is honey, and, what is
better, kindlier entente among folks
from all sections causes the honey TO
be valued all the more.
1T is a common saying among
those who are wise that schools and
transportation are the most impor-
tant first aids to new communities or
to a new nation. Both of these will
tend toward good results from the