Evening star., 1938-12-29
An American
You Should
Know
Nelson Loomis Works
To Boost TroveI to
And in U. S.
BY DELLA PYNCHON,

PotentialitieS of the Interior De.
partment's new United States Travel
Bureau are legion. It is an infant
Government service, yet sturdy and
strong In plans and hopes, as it
awaits means for future growth on
new congressional appropriations.
Nelson Loomis is its chief and
guiding genius. His ideas are peril
nent and persuasive. Facts present
the need, which Secretary Ickes
recognized in establishing the bu-
reau in 1887, and recently clinched
by radioing his increasing interest
in sponsoring travel to and within
| this country and to our Territories
and island possessions. Facts show
that S175,000,000 have floated to
Europe to alleviate the unemploy-
ment Of foreign workmen that
should line the pockets of our un-
employed. More facts show from
statistical data made by the Eco
nomic Committee of the League of
Nations that the United States is
sadly lacking" in favorable travel
trade balances. 1t is known among
some European nations that one
reciprocal tourist is worth two pigs
as an agreement purchase. Travel
ers are recognized as economic fac
tors and are bartered as such in
Europe, Mr.. Loomis says. If tour
ing America and her possessions
becomes smart" it appears inevi-
table that our economic problem will
benefit.
Tall, handsome, enthusiastic
young Nelson Loomis arrived on
the national scene fresh from a
State forerunner of national travel
promotion. He was president Of
the international Publicity Asso-
ciates," sponsored by the New York
Chamber of Commerce, designed TO
attract foreign tourists to New York
States beauty spots Pictorial
brochures were distributed by the
Cunard Line.
The main purpose Of the United
States Travel Bureau, as explained
by Mr.. Loomis, Is to establish a
National Travel Board, with rep
ASoSAilolAfCo 4lOlA lIiC OIdICS, tllS
Government and private industry,
to formulate and recommend means
to execute national travel promo
ton by brochure, radio and motion
picture programs, designed to in
crease United States participation
in the world travel dollar. It ap-
pears that the new board will func-
ton on a cooperative interdepart-
mental basis. Already set up are
two clearing houses in New York
and San Francisco that are CO.
ordinating worldwide inquiries on
recreational. educational and scenic
opportunities of this country.
Mr.. Loonis has been a world
traveller as cruise director Of vari-
Gus European and South American
tours. He was born in Albany, n.
Y, in 1902, lived in California for
/ 10 years, spent year at Fort Sill
handling recreational activities for
the Army, worked in the aviation
business and for Edison Co. on
/ power projects, when he won the
amateur boxing championship Of
Big Creek IN competition with min
ers and lumberjacks. They called
him the fighting pencil pusher.
He took a fling at the movies and
was always cast as the villain be.
cause his expression was not guile
less enough for hero roles. His
hobbies now are badminton and the
painting Of portraits, maps and
| landscapes that are exceedingly
good. He has large and interesting
collection of pictorial maps, very
useful in his present business.