The Kusko times., 1932-08-20
CHECKING FACTS FOR THE
 INTERNATIONAL HIGHWAY
(Fairbanks .News-Miner.)


 an intensive campaign to secure facts which vii accelerate o commencement of constructionaof. the International Highway, according to Ernest Walker Sawyer, of the Department of the In terior, who was in Fairbanks yester- day.
 Most of the work has devolved upon him. as MT. Rice, of Detroit, has been busy as head of community chest work in that city, and Major Mall colm Elliott has, been i'll a good part of the time.
 "We are gathering information as to the number of people who would trave over the highway and how much money they will spend, so as to jus tify construction of the highway said Mir. Sawyer. "We have collected literally hundreds of pages of data.
 "Britishz,Golumhia direct revenue from tourist travel last year was over seven million dollars. The tide of tourists which the Internationa shigh-- way would bring would measurably increase that revenue"
 Mir. Sawyer explained that Western Canada has. just completed two major road projects which have been in course of construction for many years, which leads to the. belief that this is an excellent time to embark upon the buildin. gof the: International High way. His. remarks indicated that lit- tie or no trouble. vii be. experienced. in obtaining funds. for American sec- tions of the highway, but the Cana dians do not like to set out upon major projects of this character with. out proof that they will benefit.
 This proof is being supplied. There are agencies available for breaking down. into detailed, figures the man ner in which every industry benefits from tourist travel. In this connec-- .tion he. showed daa drawn up by Southern California organizations. disclosing rte part tourists play in increasing profits of a long list of industries.
 Various experts, says MT. Sawyer. make various estimates as to the num-, Der of tourist cars which will come through to Fairbanks the first year the road is open. One authority, by means of graphs and curves, sts the number at from, $500 to 5000. The chief of the Canadian national parks puts his estimate at from 5000 to 5000. He believes the amount of traffic will increase at 60-degree angle. Chief Engineer East of the Southern California Automobile Club, described by Mir. Sawyer as the great est authority in the world in matters of this kind,. says 10000 cars will come through to Fairbanks the first year.
 My original guess" said MT. Saw yer, twas that by the fifth year we woud have at least 10000 people a year, but these fellows are way be- yond my figures, and they know more about it than ]"
 From long years of experience it is known that on tn eaverage three and half people travel in every car and spend from ST to $15 each per person per day, depending upon the facilities for spending.
 'I realized" said MT. Sawyer, "that promotion of the highway has to be carried on by an organization, and l finally arranged with the Washington State Good Roads Association to have one committee work exclusively on the project. A committee of twenty members was appointed, with Ashe Curtis, Seattle photographer and one of the leading good roads boosters in the West. as chairman. The Wash ington State Good Roads Association