Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1926-01-24
IN OUR
VALLEY

~ HE towns of the Lower Rio Grande
j Valley. from Brownsville to Mis-
sion. have been making bid for win
ter tourists, but have made no provi-
sion to care for them.
This is the complaint Of tourists now
here
Every season finds hotel accommoda-
tions sadly lacking. Tourists are turn
ed away daily.
Light housekeeping accommodations
are not available. Many tourists, espe
cially small families, usually want IA
cilities for light housekeeping.
First, accommodations; then they
want entertainment, the sort that goes
with rest. They want parks, and bench
es in them. They want the games Of
various kinds familiar to winter re-
sorters. They not only want them, they
demand them; for they are accustomed
to them in California and Florida.
H. Burkholder of Clyde, Ohio, visi-
tor in Brownsville, having these things
in mind, writes letter to The Herald.
Mr.. Burkholder is not criticising idly.
He has visited other winter resorts.
has come to know what tourists from
the north expect, and urges that Imc
Valley towns follow the other resorts.
The Brownsville Chamber of Com
merce already has taken note of these
things, as indicated in the annual re-
port appearing elsewhere in this morn
ing's Herald.
Mr.. Burkholder writes:
We hope to write this in a spirit
that conveys our interest in Browns
vile and the whole Valley. Sometimes
it is worthwhile to see ourselves as
'ithers see u.s.
Then, citizens, Chamber Of Com
merce and all persons interested, pIease
take this in the spirit of construction,
not destruction. We have been in Flor
ida and some of the other winter re-
sorts and know what they have in the
way of entertainment, ETC., for persons
coming into their sections for few
months to get away from the rigors of
the northern winters, and rest and rec
reate.
We are here for just that purpose,
and what do we find here in the way
OF games, entertainment, ETC., as are
found in many of the cities in Florida,
for instance? .sr,h
g.rsy7s~ $50
"Let us mention some of the things
we enjoyed in town two years ago.
A public playground containing a hall
supplied with tables and chairs, both
inside and out, there being a wide
porch completely around the building.
Games included rogue. lawn bowling,
horseshoe pitching, shuffleboard. There
was long shed with table through
its center for chess, checkers, dominoes,
etc. By paying small fee for the sea-
son, everyone has the privilege of all
these games.
Maybe you do not think all these
things were enjoyed!
In playing you made acquaintance
from everywhere. In the forenoon, per-
haps, with party from Maine, in the
afternoon and evening with folks from
tennessee, the next day with some one
from Canada and so on through the
season. Can you not see the interest
ing associations, and the cali to re-
turn the following season?
In addition to what / have already
mentioned, there was an excellent band
out nearly every afternoon and even
ing, with seats supplied. There was
also very large auditorium with Sc
ries OF lectures and forums and musical
programs. Lecturers were the most
prominent that could be secured.
These things, along with a fine eli
mate, are certain to attract tourists.
As to living conveniences, a town
Tor tourists in great numbers must
have plenty of hotel room, and espe
cially lots of convenient light house
keeping rooms. You have hardly
start here in this line.
There are thousands of people in
the north who, like ourselves, are able
to come south in the winter if they
can get housekeeping apartments for
the season that do not cost too much.
These things, along with the eli
mate, are what created the boom for
Florida. (We must concede something
to their tax laws)
Now as it is becoming more and
more popular, this thing of winterinp
IN the south, it behooves this Valley to
cater to tourists. 1t would be bust
ness proposition if thought of in no
other light.
When Thousands come into a citv in
winter and drop several hundred dol