Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-05-21
PUBLICITY RECORDS
INDICATE 4 HOST
TOURISTS COMING

Portland. Me-, May 19.-Taking az
a barometer records on file at the
State of Maine Publicity Bureau here
for the past four years on inquiries
received as a result of newspaper
and magazine advertising made pos
sible through monies raised by
cities and towns, Maine should have
it's banner season the coming sum-
mer.
Believing that the summer season
for out of state visitors could be
heightened, especial emphasis has
been placed the present year on the
spring and fall attractions that hte
State has to offer. To bring this
about, the general state newspaper
and magazine advertising was
started this year on April 10th as
against May 18th last year.
The wisdom in doing this has al
ready been proven from inquiries
received by mail and also by in
quiries made in person at the Maine
Publicity Bureaus offices at Long
fellow Square, Portland.
The records at the Office show that
for the week ending May 1st this
year, the fourth week after advertis-
lI6 OCSdII, 1,VcA Aiddil lSo WEI 2 AAioNN
by mail as against 5S1 for the week
q ding June 9th last year, which was
also the fourth week after general
advertising began, as well as later
in the season. This shows nearly a
so per cent increase.
Inquiries made in person at the Eu-
reau are as heavy at the pres ent
time as in the middle Of June las;
year.
These figures, which are authentic
and are on record at the Bureau,
coupled with reports from early book
ings at hotels. camps and check-up
on cottages rented In various Sec
lions OVER the State, as compared
with last year, point to record sum-
mer and we'll proves the results OBJ
tanned from the States intensive de-.
velopment and publicity program
conducted the past year.
In checking up the inquiries received
by mail, 1t is interesting to note the
wide range of territory they embrace
and also the greatly increased num-
Der of inquiries received from the
south, which can be directly traced
as a result of publicity done on the
Maine Southern Pilgrimage last win
ter.
While the letters received repre-
sent practically every State, in the
Union, letters Of especial interest
showing the scope the publicity pro-
gram has taken IN are received from
far distant points.
Letters received this month at the
Bureau include some from Cuba,
Porto Rico, California. London, Ger
many. New Mexico and Canada, and
even South America.
At the present time 1t has been
necessary to employ an office force
of twelve girls at the Publicity Bu-
reau to look out for Office detail IN
mailing and answering inquiries-re-
ceived by mail and made in person.
The State of Maine Publicity Bu-
reau acts as the service organization
for the other State organizations and
it is wholly through this Bureau that
concrete results are obtained from
the money appropriated by the State,
which goes for printing of State
booklets and the monies appropriated
by the cities and towns through the
Maine Development Association,
which goes to newspaper and maya
zine advertising.
Not one penny of the money ap-
propriated by the State or cities and
towns goes to overhead or salaries.
but all of this falls on the Publicity
Bureau which distributes the book
let's and answers the inquiries re-
ceived from the advertising and per-
sonai inquiries at the Bureaus head
quarters.6 Longfellow Square,/Port-
land. Visitors to this Office alone
total over 500 some days in the sum
mer. The Bureau is supported who'll
ly by popular subscription from in
dividuals, banks, railroads, hotels,
commercial houses. etc.
That the utmost service may be
rendered to the summer tourist the
coming summer, branch information
bureaus Of the Maine Publicity Bu-
reau have been established for the
first time with the drug stores
throughout the State, due to the CO.
operation of the Maine Pharmaceu-
teal Association, and also the whole
sale druggists of the State.
Each druggists will have detailed
information Of their immediate local.
tiles, sEch as boarding places, his
torical places of interest, where the
fish bite. etc. They will be supplied
regularly with all State booklets by
the Maine Publicity Bureau. Also
branch bureaus will be established at
kittery on the west, Houlton on the
east, and at Bangor. thus giving the
maximum Of SERVICE.
Those who speak of our tourists as
a three months industry. should re-
member that caring for a million Wis
itors means increased business
throughout the State-they have 10
be housed, fed. and supplied with the
necessities of life. This helps our
transportation lines. our farmers and
our merchants. Also, they should
bear in mind that our tourist trade
has increased nonresident taxation
in the last ten years by over $50 pr
cent. and that during the winter
months work has to be done in build
ing repairing. ETC.. for the coming
year. In other words, every tourist
lightens the burden Of every tax
payer in the State and gives those IN
charge of the DEVELOPMENT nrogra m