Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-07-18
BY WILLIAM ULLMAN,
Automobile Editor of The star.

Riding down from the horizon thick
with dust or glistening in the glossy
grandeur of wide, smooth highways
a seemingly endless stream Of motor
tourists is ever pouring in and out Of
the National Capital, leaving in its
wake a very definite contribution Il
the economic welfare Of the city and
its environs.
Is there adequate appreciation Of
| the great importance to washington
OF this annual influx Of motor travel
ers, which makes itself felt mos
strongly during the months Of June
July, August and September?
This observer, among many others
thinks not. While 1t is hardly posi-
BILE to estimate accurately the tota.
the National Capital during these
four months, q conservative estimate
unofficial but nevertheless from au
thoritative sources, puts the figure al
100, 900 persons.
There should be fuller recognition
ofs the fact that in a very definite
measure Washington occupies a 20
sition in the Summer much the same
as Paris, Atlantic City, the Riviera
or any other great magnet for the
tourist. And, Furthermore. there
should be, similarly, fuller recognition
of the manner in which the automo
bile is aiding in the upgroWth of q
constantly increasing transient popu
lation.
The motor car brings to Washing
ton during these months whole new
city OF people, large group intent
upon enjoying q vacation, brief OF
long. in the National Capital and pre-
pared to expend q reasonable amount
of money per individual in acquiring
q stable list of necessities and lux
uries.
No matter how hard business tries
to avoid It, the warm months iilevi
tably bring an easing-on IN trade
volume. Washington's ever-gaining
transient population is providing FOR
its business interests q virile purchas
ing public, widening each year in
number and spending power. As mo
tor touring grows In popularity 50
does washington al q center Of inter
est. The economic advantage is OBJ.
vious.
Washington Draws Most.
It Is apparent that although all
cities are the gamers as q result Of
the marked increase in automobile
travelling during the Summer months,
Washington's share !. ii the lions
share because Of its paramount inter
est to all Americans. The automobile
has given the Middle Westerner, the
New Highlander, the Southerner and
kthe Pacific Coaster another and q
pleasant means Of conveyance to the
Capital. No trip to the East Is now
complete without 9 stop IN Washing.
ton; and thousands upon thousands Of
tourists from all sections Of the
United States start from home with
the District Of CoIumbia az their main
objective
This year win see all previous
records for tourist travel to Wash
ineton broken. That Is, unless all
signs fan. The streams Of cars IS
beginning now to swing into full
tide IL action, and the long lines viii
Be uninterrupted Ia their passage
until late In September
In no other year4-and 1895 was q
banner one have the indications
been 80 favorable for extraordinarily
heavy motor tourist travel to this
city. It was stated In some quarters
that Philadelph Sesquicentennial
exposition might have the effect Of
drawing some traffic from Washing
ton, but II rcaIlty It u working out
q fhe pppqzite AiEeetiom The tour.