Evening star., 1935-06-16

UPPER LEFT: AN ATTRACTIVE
MOTORIST "CAMP" IN FLORIDA.
UPPER RIGHT: THE AUTHOR
OEFT) AT MESA VERDE MA.
TIONAL PARK, COLORADO.
BY JOHN J. MCCARTHY.
" VERY now and then some Ca
l. lamity howler adds to general
pessimism by shouting long and
IL loud that there is no longer
any golden opportunity in
America. The older industries have
reached the point of saturation and
there is no hope whatsoever for new
industry. The peak of American
business has been reached. Net re-
suit: General pessimism increases and
general business decreases a little
more. Plenty Of pertinent evidence
shows there is much fallacy in this
argument. In this article-we will tell
about one case which proves absolutely
the contrary.
Out of the throes of the depression
has arisen a new and major industry
rendering q real service to more than
sc, 1000 900 annually and enjoying a
yearly revenue Of more than $780,
100000. This gigantic. depression
built industry is known as the Tourist
Camps and Cottage Establishments
and caters to the millions and millions
of motor tourists who during the last
few depression years have literally
swarmed the highways and by-ways
Of America.
Furthermore, this new industry, un-
no passing depression fad. It's here
to stay. Consider its size. A recent
authoritative survey indicates that
there are more than $4,000 of these
tourist camps and cottage establish
ments in the United States. OF these,
14,000 are of a representative type
operating 10 cottages or more, with
an estimated valuation of $40, 900 each.
Their total valuation is set at $780,
10000, with more than 300,0 900 cot
tageS and $50, 900 beds.
In the short span Of five depression
years, these tourist camps and cottage
establishments have become q major
industry with their own cooperative
trade association, their own trade
paperS-namely. the Motor Guest
and the Roadside Merchant-and
even their own N. r. A. code. In get
ting together for the purpose Of draft
ing an N. r. A. code in February, 1884,
the hosts of the highway formed the
National Tourist Lodge and Motor
Court Trade Association. J. C. Stew
ems, Phoenix Cottages, Jacksonville,
Fla, and Robert Stuart, Blue Bonnet
Courts, Houston, Tex, were elected
president and secretary, respectively.
During the last year this association
has been functioning to the extent Of
initiating cooperative measures among
the various camp owners, attempting
to establish standard trade practices
affecting rates, wages of employees and
the buying Of supplies.
Reason for Slow Progress.
The associations progress in such
matters has been slow. That is largely
because the tourist camp is unique
among American industries. It Is al
most 100 per cent independently
owned; no sizable chains-not even
any voluntary association ownership.
Practically the only exception to this
is a string Of camps in the Middle
West owned by a major petroleum
company.
Today you will find these tourist
cottage establishments upon every
main highway from Maine to Wash
ington, from Florida to California.
Even in the populous East their trick
signs signal you repeatedly along the
Boston Post road and Lincoln High
way. However, it is west of the Miss
issippi, especially in Minnesota. Col
orado and California, that these
camps are at their very best. Here
the highway hosts do themselves
proud in providing accommodations
for motoring guests. In California,
round propositions and are accepted
as one of the worthwhile attractions
of motoring.
In the Annual Official Directory
published by the American Automo-
bile Association, Ohio, Illinois. Texas,
Arizona and Montana are well repre-
sented with a good number of fine
camps. In the East, Maine and upper
New York State shine with a long
list of modern, elaborate establish
ments. With the exception Of Flor
ida, the South has been slow in pro-
viding de luxe villas for motorists.
Not only are the representative
tourist camps and cottage establish
ments complete in bed and board
facilities, but recent surveys reveal
that more than 10 per cent of them
also have on the premises well-stocked
retail grocery stores, soda fountains,
restaurants and oil and gas stations.
Seventy-five per cent of them are
open the year round. So large are
many Of these tourist camps that
they are little villages in themselves,
with community swimming pools,
Fairgrounds and recreation halls.
Some Of them even have their own
police forces.
The rates for cabins range from as
low as so cents to as high as So per
night; the average daily prices are
81 and 50. On account OF the shorter
season, the rates in the Northern
States, on an average, are higher
than in the South.
The total annual revenue taken In
by the hosts Of these highway camps
or 'motelS," as they are popularity
called, Is variously estimated at
somewhere between $500, 900 900 and
$3.50, ,000, 900. A yearly income Of
such staggering proportions auto
matically places this lusty infant in
dustry right up among the time
honored giants of American business.
It's size seems all the more remark
able when 1t Is considered that this
industry was actually weaned and
nurtured during the depression.
Tourist camps made little or no
headway during the flash years of
1927, 1928 and 1929. II your memory
is good, you win wistfully recall that
in those days everybody seemed to
have money aplenty. Why stay at q
81 roadside camp when the grand
resort hotels were asking only 81 .
nighta
Il you continue in the rsminiscins
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