Spirit of Jefferson. [volume] (Charles Town, Va. [W. Va.]) 1844-1948, 1926-08-25
THE SHENANDOAH VALLEY
SPECIAL.

The recent tour of $50 Virginians
on the Shenandoah Valley Special"
train, ehaperoned by the Southern
Railway TO Canada, New England,
New York. the Sesqui-Centennial,
and Atlantic City, will doubtless be-
come memorable in the history of
Virginia. Much has been said as to
the Good Will visit of the Virginians
II would take book TO cover the
great variety of their experiences,
observations, and reflections. The
tour carried them to the most out
standing cities and points of inter-
est and it is doubtless whether an
other such tour could be easily
planned. We wish to say Just a
word as to the value of the publicity
which this trip gave Virginia.
In the first place. the 230 Virgin
ians met many people and told them
the purpose of the visit. This will
become an ever widening circle of
contact with thousands and thous-
ands of people. Again, publicity
was obtained by means of receptions
offered by the Boards of Trade and
committees, which met the visitors
at every stopping place Again, the
visitors were permitted to broadcast
number of times, notably from
/ Montreal Portland. New York. and
three times IN Philadelphia.
This reached large audience
without doubt, but perhaps better
than all this was the attention given
the party by the press. 1t should
not be forgotten that the press is a
very wonderful power and plants its
seed directly and indirectly. The
dailies of Toronto, Ottawa, and Mon
treal, were generous in the space Civ
en- to the visitors. In Quebec. the
French papers paid their respects.
In Portland. one of the leading pa
pers gave a front page picture and
/ three columns about the patty. This
was more than copld be expected.
But it is especially gratifying to
know that the three big Boston daily
papers gave editorial and news col
umns notice to the visitors. In adj
dition to this, the Moving Picture
men were constantly in attendance
and doubtless spread the news far
Their than we knew. All Of the
Philadelphia papers had write-ups
about the visit and pictures taken Of
the reception with the Mayor. And
the final wind up at Atlantic City,
/ that Mecca of tourists from the
world over. was not lacking in telling
Of our visit.
All of these things, in addition ia
the numerous concerts given by the
Handley High School Band. notably
! in such hotels as the King Edward IN
/ Toronto, the Windsor in Montreal
/ Congress Square in Portland, the
Boston Common, the Sesqui-Cen'
! tennial auditorium (Which holds six
teen thousand people,, and the Roy.
al Palace at Atlantic City, are not
/ to be overlooked.
Attention was called to Virginia's
many attractions in very vigorous
way and we are anxious that oui
people realize the very fine publicity
which the Shenandoah Valley Spec.
ial" fostered by Shenandoah Valley
Inc. brought not only to the Shen'
andoah but to Virginia in general.
In addition ii this, placards We're
posted on the train, stating that this
was a great party of 230 Virginians
who were cut TO tell the story of the
! Shenandoah Valley. Wherever the
train stopped or was parked, il
created attention and published the
news, as well.
Without question, the influx OF
tourists will be tremendously in
creased by this tour.