Evening star., 1925-04-19

Long distance automOOlle touring
will reach unprecedented proportions
this year, according to survey of
touring possibilities for 1925 just
made by the American Automobile
Association.
The 1925 crop of tourists, 1t is esti-
mated, will be worth two and a half
billions of dollars to the many COM
munities located along the play
grounds of the Nation and along the
highways and trails leading to the
centers of motor tourist traffic. These
figures are based on data supplied by
pivotal sections of the country where
the business of catering to motor
tourist traffic has been placed on a
dependable basis.
F'loridas harvest of tourist gold is
estimated at 00,000,000, California
is making preparations for a million
motorists this season, with also halr
billion dollars as it's goal; the North
west, with Colorado as the gateway of
the region, will run close second to
California and Florida; 5000 cars
registered in Colorado last year, ac-
cording to the Denver Tourist Bureau
and at the rate of yearly increases the
mark for this season is 1000 to
200. 900 automobiles. According to off,
cial figures 1851 motorists entered
the State of Oregon last season. AS
compared with 315,916 cars which
registered in the national parks last
year, the park service is now look
ing forward to a banner year with
400, 600 cars as the objective.
25 Per Cent Gain Expected.
With conditions for touring more
favorable than ever before there is
every reason to expect at least 25
per cent increase in the numbr of au-
tobiles that will make long-distance
trips, the national touring board OF
the A. A. A. predicts.
There are more roads and better
roads for tourist traffic; many new
links have been filed in; there is bet
ter touring information available.
largely due to the more efficient or
ganization of motor clubs; there are
more motor camps and better camps,
while more hotels along the highways
recognize the Importance Of better
service to the tourist trade.
Not only is motor touring a gil
gantic business and a great commu-
nifty builder, but the growing habit OF
using the automobile more and more
for long distance trips is one of the
most healthful phases of motordom
today" Thomas P. Henry, president
of the American Automobile ASSocia-
ton, declared.
Mr.. Henry attributes the tremen-
dous growth of motor touring to four
principal factors, namely, the extern
sion of the good roads program, the
increase in the number and efficiency
of motor clubs, the realization on the
part Of the average motorist that only
by greater use of his car for pleasure
does he get the most out of his in
vestment and finally the development
of community organization to attract
tourist traffic. He said:
Ownership Worth While.
There was never a better time to
own an automobile. In the past twelve
months a total of $1,000, 900, 900 has
been spent on road building and main
tenance by the Federal Government,
the States and the municipalities.
Many of the transcontinental high
ways have been improved, $50 100000
highway alone, while 10000 new
miles of read have been constructed.
Motor club service has been enor-
mously extended. The American Au-
tomobile Association, through its 7S9
clubs. has made preparations to route
2,0O0, 900 automobiles, which means
5000, 900 tourists this season. There
are few places in the land where
Three A service will not extend. Our
policy is to follow the tourist through.
Our national touring bureau issues
to each club a road report on condi
tions of the main or arterial high
ways of the country. This is an inn
portant service feature and should
help to prevent the congestion Of traf
fic on the main trunk lines.
There are more than 5000 motor
camps maintained by communities
and by private individuals. In the
new'A. A. A. Camping Manual $500 Of
these are named as standard. To the
motorist who wanders far afield, this
manual will prove an invaluable guide
and in the manual he will find a de-
tailed description of the facilities Of
fered by each camp. In our Hotel
Book $4,000 hotels are named, thus
giving an assurance that the tourist
will have at his disposal a maximum
selection of overnight accommodations
at a reasonable cost.
Small Hotels Needed.
despite the popularity of the pub
lie camp site, the A. A. A finds that
there is still a great opportunity for
the development of small hotels on