The Waterbury Democrat., 1935-07-29
In New York
BY PAUL HARRISON

tourist expenditures in New York
which probably runs to $780,
10000 a year-the average indi-
vidual doesn't spend much. And
doesn't need to-.
Consider, for example, what a
careful amusement shopper can
get for $40 bill: He can get
what the agencies call a deluxe
all-expense tour, including hotel
room with bath, meals, a long
trip in a sightseeing bus, a visit
to the roof Of the skytoucher in
Rockefeller Center, perform
ance at Radio City Music Hall, and
few hours at a Broadway night
club.
Hotels catering principally to
sightseers offer all sorts Of COM
bination bargains. Room and
theater tickets; room and rubber
neck excursion; room and dinner
at a cabaret. One big hostelry
even provides country-club privil-
eyes with its rooms through an al
lance with a Westchester club.
Much or Little
The average tourist, however,
doesn't even spend $40. The New
York Convention and Visitors
Bureau, having circularized rep
resentative slice of the incoming
throng. calculates that So a day for
five days is a mean figure. Con-
vention delegates are inclined to
splurge to the extent of about $22
day, but they only stay three
days. e~
OF course, there are plenty of
exceptions. One man answering
a QUESTIONABLE listed $50 for taxi
fares in three days. Another spent
only So for hotel and meals, but
tossed off $140 in night clubs in
one evening. A woman observed
every possible frugality for four
days, but spent $45 in a beauty
parlor. A second woman con-
fessed having spent SAP in a FIVE
and-ten-cent store. A new groom
made a clean sweep in the Man.
haitian furniture marts-spent $780,
900 10 outfit home he was es-
tablishing for his bride in Wis
consin.
Gotham Go.Gcttcrs
New York has less of the uni
fed, hurrah civic spirit than any
town ever heard of. For ex-
ample, not until about a year ago
has there been any organized at
tempt to lure conventions here, al
though 43 other cities have been
doing 1t for a long time. Now
though, the Gotham propagandists
are busy throughout the country
Agents are contracting officials OF
clubs and associations, and not
only officials, but their wives. They
believe that women would rather
come to New York than any other
place. Lately, too, there has been
more OF concerted effort to swell
the plain tourist tide. A half doz-
en- hotels keep men on the road
drumming up vacation trade. And
the Empire State building distrib.
utes its circulars in 10000 out
posts of the midlands.
Almost anybody would under.
estimate the importance OF the
convention trade until he saw lis,
of conventions scheduled for this
country and Canada throughout
the year. There will be, all told
about 10000 conventions, attend
ed by considerably more than A..
| 100000 Americans. Everything
from the association of button
manufacturer to the Union Print.
ers' International Baseball League
and Golf association, the Texas
Ophthalmological and Otolaryngo.
logical society to the United Bro
theirs of Friendship and Sisters OF
the Mysterious Ten.
Among Those Present.
The long list is swelled by meet
ings Of the National association OF
Egg Case and Egg Case Filler
Manufacturers, various state organ
izations of Cemetery Superinten.
dents, an Association of COUNTY
Drain Commissioners, the Asso.
citation of Station and Train Por.
tiers. Supreme Royal Ladies Of the
Orient, and the National Puzzlers
League.
Did You ever hear of the Ma.
tional Minstrel Players and Fans
association. Or the Alaska Yu.
kon Sourdough Stampede associa.
ton. There's q cat lovers con,
vention. q canary-breeders con,
vention. a meeting of the Order Of
the Sons Of Herman, and one Of
the Ancient Order of the Knight
of the Mystic Chain. The Nationa
Shorthand Reporters association
Is having q pow-wow; also the Or
der of Johns Daughters. FifteeI
hundred stamp collectors assem-
BILE to discuss philateiy; two hun
dred harpists meet TO play and tall
about harps; Ind fourteen hun