The Winslow mail., 1926-10-08

that rail travel was exceeded by
private entries.
There were 22,S49 autos carrying
1880 passengers registered at the
park entrances. They bore license
plates from every state in the union
District of Columbia, Hawaii, Alas
ka, Panama, Mexico, China and the
Philippine Islands. Statistics pre-
pared in the park office, show that
California led the list in the num-
Der of cars with 5,156 and Arizona
was second with 4,741. Other
states listed as to the number of
cars are: Utah 1,430; Texas 1,156;
Colorado 1,017; Illinois 769 and
Ohio 647. Among the visitors ar
irving by rail, were persons from
81 foreign countries.
The figures for the season is Is
per cent in excess of last years
total, and is the largest number
to enter the park in a year. OF the
total, 67,436 came by rail, 1850
in 22,849 automobiles and 236 by
miscellaneous means. Although
the increase on the south rim was
substantial, the percentage of in
crease on the north rim was much
more impressive. While rail travel
to the south rim showed a loss, the
total for this class of travel on
the north rim more than doubled.
and there was very material in
crease in auto travel. The total
/ travel to the south rim amounted
to 129, ,222, compared to 125. .797 a
year ago, and the figures for the
north rim are 11,03O, compared to
8,256.
The claims of routes through the
Great Southwest, as being all-year
highways, are amply substantiated
by figures on the park record books.
On September 30th, autos had en-
tered the park for 621 consecutive
days. The records also show that
cars from the state of New York
entered the park every month of
the year, and the same is true of
8 other states east of the Missis-
slppi river and also a large num-
Der OF western states. No serious
trouble was encountered along the
trans-continental highways pass
ing through Arizona and New
Mexico at any time of the year.
Unusually heavy spring rains oc-
CURED, but there was no break in
the steady flow of cross country
cars traversing these states.
A close study of the figures show
that road developments have had
decided influence on the trend
of travel. Records show that 49,
244 Arizona motorists visited the
canyon compared to 1906 last
year. Two things probably ex
plain this unexpected increase, one
being the "See Arizona" campaign
that has been carried on so sue
cessfully, and the other being the
development of highways north and
south across the state. Both Of
these factors have not only affect
ed the vacation and sightseeing
plans of the people of Arizona, but
those of other states. In attempt
ing to call the attention of Ari-
zonians to the scenic features of the
state, they have also been brought
to the attention of motorists
throughout the entire country, and
Arizona is no longer a state the
tourist merely passes through
1t is not expected that this years
total is the largest that will ever
enter the park. The new season
has already started and shows
every promise of breaking the
records of the one just closed.
AS the Grand Canyon is open the
entire year, the end Of the season
is merely date on the calendar,
and has no significance other than
being the end of one and the begin
ming of another.