The Coconino sun., 1927-02-18

OF the city and surrounding country
he sees many things to criticize and
In turn other impressions which are
entirely favorable, but as his visit
lengthens he begins to realize under
what handicap the city has been built
and marvels that such an accomplish
ment was possible.
Flagstaff, founded virtually upon
one industry, that of numbering, has
risen froLn the ranks and proclaimed
itself as the finest and most ideally
located city in northern Arizona, and
justly SO. In comparison with east
ern cities, Flagstaff has fought
= against odds. Where the former has
many walls upon which to rise, this
community was forced to take advan-
tage of every small detail and make
the most OF it. While it's past growth
has been slow and even, with the
knowledge that it has something to
sell In the way of climate, scenery and
historical atmosphere, Flagstaff with
IN the next ten years will see a phe-
nomenai growth, a growth just as
stable as it has enjoyed in the past
decade.
Everyone is aware of the possibili-
800 VI 1aS Sld11, DuI not all seem
fully to realize the mecca we have
here for the Eastern traveller. Every
year tens of thousands Of people
leave the sweltering cities of the east
TO seek relief III q more suitable eli
mate. Some find what they seek but
others are vastly disappointed, be-
cause they know not where to look
In line with this thought why not let
the eastern vacationist know the real
value OF the northern Arizona eli
mate When the seasons shift and
winter lays its hand upon the east,
countless numbers flock to southern
California and Florida to enjoy the
equable climate they have to offer,
many only to be disappointed. The
question arises, why? To the person
who is from the cold climate of the
east and middle west the perpetual
heat is enevating and he desires oc-
casionally the colder climate to which
he IS accustomed. Here again Flag
staff can enter the field and make an
appealing bid to the winter tourist,
not on the basis of winters sport
program, but purely from a climatic
and scenic standpoint.
The problem that evolves itself
now is how to put across the mes
sage that will bring the people throng
ing to this country. There are only
two ways, the first by advertising and
the second by making the visitors
stay here so profitable and interest
ing that the word will go forth and
arouse in all desire to see Americas
great outdoor wonderland.
The question Of advertising is
complicated one. Probably the best is
the old reliable "word- mouth" kind.
The second is commercial advertis-
ing, which must be used in conjunc-
tion with the first. When one picks
up magazines of national scope today
he sees the advertisements of south
ern California cities, Douglas and
Phoenix, Arizona and numerous 9TH
ers. What does that fact signify? 1t
means simply that other cities and
countries have already awakened to
their possibilities and are CONNER
clahzing on them. Once Flagstaff
gets the stream of tourist traffic di-
verted this way it will keep coming
out of virtue of what it has to offer.
Nowhere in Gods kingdom can be
found the wealth of attractions as are
located within radius of rs miles of
this city. Why not commercializc on
them more than has been done? Los
Angeles has nothing to offer but eli
mate and the movie" atmosphere, yet
every day over 5000 visitors enter
that city. There's a reason for it and
it can be found in advertising In
every Americans heart there is a
longing and desire to see Los An
geles, instilled through the medium Of
the printed word Why not wake up
to the possibilities of the same med
iunl. Flagstaff has a Chamber of
Commerce which could ably handle
that part of an expansion program.
Not only must the tourist be invited
to come to this wonderland, but eff
forts must be made to handle the in
flux of visitors in the most expedi-
tious manner. On this one point
Flagstaff is still very weak in spite of
the recent acquisition of the finest
hotel in Arizona. In the summer
months, rooming accommodations
command an exorbitant rate, while
In other months the same acc2mmo-
dations go begging due to a lack Of
tourists. With year-round tourist
"crop' apartment buildings will come
into being and other buildings rise
out of the earth to take care of the
visitors. With the building Of new
structures the city will automatically
bea1tify itself and make itself more
inviting to the traveller and vacation
seeker.
To take care of the train arrivals |
an adequate auto transportation sys-
tenn must be devised and advertised. |
Probably no other mode of travel ap-
peals more to the tourist than does !
motor transportation. One has only
to look at Colorado Springs to see to
what extent this form of transporta-
ton has been. built up. In that one
city there are five Individual motor
transportation systems and two large
bus companies. What has Colorado
Springs to offer? Two really worth
while points of interest only, namely, |
the Garden of the Gods and Pixies
Peak. Flagstaff and Coconiao county
can match that offering dozen-folG.
The city Of Denver receives thousands
of visitors annually with less to at
tract than this county We come back
to the question of "why?D and an
swer with the word advertising" To /
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