The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1928-08-10
Countless Thousands Go
Over Border, Majority
to Get Liquor.
MANY SLEEP IN AUTOS
Hotels in Montreal and
Quebec Are damned to
the RafterS.
BY CARL D. GROAT
United Press staff Correspondent

united Press stan Correspondent
MONTREAL, Aug. 10--Some OF
the vast army of American visitors
to Canda this summer literally are
sleeping in the street here.
This is not due either to reverses
at the nearby race tracks nor to
overindulgence in alcoholic pleas
ures, NUT rather to lack OF hotel
accommodation.
All hotels and rooming houses in
the city are crowded to overflow
ing, and almost any night one can
see American tourists sleeping IN
their cars along Dorchester ST., the
rooming house district, for want Of
quarters in the city.
Neither bribery, influence, stand
ing in the community nor wealth
will buy room in this city, once the
quarters are filled Hotels do their
utmost to place all guests. At one
downtown hotel the clerks and bell
boys were busy until a. m. trying
to find quarters for their overflow
guests. In some cases, they parked
them as far as nine miles out Of
town.
Many Sleep in Autos
But even so, there is a surplus,
and this surplus sleeps in the street
in cars. Or parks the car in alleys
convenient to the hotels and then
makes itself as comfortable as pos
sible for the night
Even the hotel bathrooms are let
at fancy rates. One American Of
fetal who lives permanently in Mon
treal. has been coming downtown TO
one of the big hostelries for his
morning bath and breakfast, while
his family is away, but recently he
has found that the system does not
work, for compatriots arc sleeping
in the bathrooms.
There is no way yet of konwing
what the total of American guests in
Canada will be this summer. Every
hotel in Montreal is overfilled. and
reaping a harvest of from SO to $50
per room, double.
1t is likely the total IN all Canada
will run into several million.
For instance, a Windsor report
says that 1876, 900 persons crossed into
Canada from the States on July 4,
but that this record was exceeded IN
three days this week.
Million Guests in 1927
On the basis of three persons to
car, practically 100000 visitors
came to the Province Of Quebec
alone last year, according to figures
Of the ministry of roads. This was
an increase of about 33 per cent
over the previous year, and It is
believed that this years figures will
surpass 1927 vastly.
The minister estimated that the
Quebec province guests spent $62,-
100000 in 1927 compared to $50
100000 in 1926.
Liquor is one Of the attractions
for visiting Americans. Some are
known to come here from New York
for weekend and stay intoxicated
until their return. The Quebec
liquor commission store opposite
the Mount Royal Hotel and another
near the Windsor and Queens
Hotels are the magnets to which
thousands hasten upon arrival.
There they buy American Rye.
Bourbon and Scotch whisky at reas-
enable prices and, as one American
official put 1t, they hug their pack
ages like the bottles were babies"
Many Buy Beer
The hotels and restaurants sell
beer and wine, and the taverns
beer, and these places are well
patronized. Many guests seem sat-
isf1ed with the milder stimulants
and very few Americans make a
show" Of themselves on the streets
or in the cafes.
= Occasionally one sees a visitor
who wants to roll dice with the taxi
starter in front of the hotel or who
wants to make a speech on the
street. But for the most part, those
who imbibe do so quietly.
OF course only a part OF the
guests are lured by liquor. Many
are making a pilgrimage to the
famous Canadian shrines. Others
are attracted by the fishing and
hunting; still others by the races
outside Montreal, and others seek