The Bozeman courier. (Bozeman, Mont.) 1919-1954, 1925-04-29

THE BOHEMIAN COURIER, w
most healthful phases of motordOm
today" Thomas P. Henry, president
of the American Automobile a~ssocia-
ton, declared.
President Henry attributes the ire
mendous growth of motor touring 70
four principal factors, namely, the
extension of the good roads program;
the increase in the number and effi-
cheney of motor clubs; the realization
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:
"There was never a better time to
own an automobile. In the past u
months a total of one billion dollars
has been spent on road building and
maintenance by the federal govern
ment, the states and the municipali-
ties. Many of the transcontinental
highways have been improved, 100000
having been spent on the Lincoln
highway alone, while 10000 new miles
of road have been constructed.
"Motor club service has been enor-
mously extended. The American
Automobile association through its
789 clubs has made preparations to
route 2,0OO,0 900 automobiles, which
means 100000 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 tourist bureau
issues to each club a road report. on
conditions of the main arterial high
ways of the country. This is an i'm
portant service feature and should
help to prevent the congestion of
traffic on main trunk lines.
More than 5000 Camps.
"There are more than 5000 motor
icamps maintained by the communi-
ties and by private individuals. In
the new A. A. A. camping manual
$500 of those are named as standard
To the motorist who wanders fan
afield this manual will prove an in
valuable guide and in the manual he
will find a detailed description of the
facilities offered by each camp. In
cur hotel book $4,000 hotels are named
thus giving an assurance that the
tourist will have at his disposal a
maximum selection of overnight &C.
commodations at a reasonable cost.
despite the popularity of the pub.
lie camp site, the A. A. A. finds thai
there is still a great opportunity fol
the development of small hotels OF
routes leading to tourist centers. L
attractive and well-kept, these hotel.
can do business with the motor tour
ist who neither cares to camp out no.
to invest in the Injuries of the bis
city hotels.
"The large amount of money tina
changes hands as a result of touris
travel goes to show once more tina
good roads are of far greater valut
to the community than they are t.
the individual motorist. Every com
munity located on a road used b,
tourists receives its share of thi
money and those communities whicI
realize the value of this business an,
put themselves in a position to prof
by. it, will be the ones that will re
ceive the major part of this grea
source of income. In addition to tn
money given by the mOtorist to tn
hotels, the garages and the servic
stations on his way, the motor tour
list is in many cases a prospective ii
vestor. Many of them are seekin
new homes while thousands settle i
communities they visit. Many pul
chase unimproved land.
For this reason the motor tours
occupies the position of an importar
agency in the creation Of communit
values. If this factor was more clear
ly recognized motordom would NJ
|, have to fight so many legislative pre-
posals of an annoying and restrictiv
character.
Y
While the material results of mote
touring are tremendous, perhaps tn
greatest benefit accruing to the cou1
try from the development is the soci,
, influence. Hundreds of thousands
families of limited means now enjo
annual vacations, visiting the beaut
, spots of America with their car
, Seashore and mountain, national fo-
! ests and parks, lakes and streams al
all available to millions of our cit
zens at a cost very little higher tina
, our ordinary living expenses. To pl
! these within striking distance Of Il
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