Evening star., 1938-11-20
The Travellers Notebook
TroveI-Minded Roosevelt Administration Develops
U.S. RecreotionoI Facilities as One Phase
OF PopuIorizing Travel at Home
Nv JACQUES FUTRELLE. Jr,

BY JACQUES FUTRELLE, Jr.
When history finally appraises the
Roosevelt administration, at least
one chapter In the heavy volume OF
achievements and mistakes will be
devoted to the development OF
facilities through which the Ameri-
can traveller may enjoy his own
land.
The governmental program. car
ried along on many fronts, spurns
the temptation to belittle foreign
scenes as travel attractions; does
not impede the citizen departing for
other lands to spend money there
and thus support, in some countries,
economic and doctrinal goals hostile
to the United States: nor does 1t
appeal to patriotism with the slogan,
"See America First" The policy is
based instead on the realistic atti-
tude Of capitalizing on developed
recreation facilities, exploring fields
of possible development, expanding
the public domain dedicated to the
enjoyment of the people" until, in
an awakening to the play resources
at home. Americas travel-disposed
populace will say, "Ah, here is a
country"
The overwhelming majority of
travel follows the paths of most
enjoyment. crippled only by the ball
and chain Of cost and time. In ex-
tending the national park system,
dotting States with camp areas for
boating picnicking, swimming. hik-
ing. or just plain laZing; preserving
scenes rich in historical associa-
tions: creating a vast recreational
reservoir around Boulder Dam, the
administration is fostering con-
tented and easy travel at home and
pursues competition on a merit basis
with foreign lands.
A few quick figures from the re-
cent report Of Arno B. Cammerer,
director of the National Park
Service, hint the extent of the pol
icy of scattering about the country
a number of tourist parks-called
recreational demonstration areas
with the cooperation of the States
In his report for the last fiscal
year. Mr.. Cammerer points out
that development was pressed on
As projects on 81 areas in "a states
Nearly $4,000 acres have been ac-
quired to promote this type Of va
cation travel, and title was cleared
to 253 1851 acres for development
On completion, these areas have an
adequate roads system water, sani-
tation and facilities for supervis-
ing recreation.
But not by parks alone does the
tourist live. and not solely on parks
would the Administration have
intra American. travel thrive. The
handspring for the movement
hither. thither and yon within
United States borders will be dis
covery and appreciation of paths
not necessarily governmental-tour-
ist bypaths now, perhaps, but rich
in history. folklore and manner
isms as we'll as scene. that the
European traveller would discern
with half an eye If this sounds a
bit heavy as tourist fare, remember
that play follows the crowd. The
spotlight may glare all the brighter
then on such famous winter play
lands as Florida. such summer at
fractions as New England. but no
longer would the thousand and one
charming areas-let's cut it to an
even thousand by naming as the
odd "one" the Natchez Trace-be
in almost total eclipse.
Europe. which cultivated first the
moneyed American traveller and then
branched into mass sales to white
collar workers, involuntarily taught
the administration something about
winning its share of the travel dol
lar. Italy, France, Switzerland and
several other countries, convinced
that they would be doing the travel
er favor by calling attention to
their atmosphere and scenery, set
up governmental tourist bureaus in
promising parts of the world, par
ticularly the United States. To
these bureaus-travel specialists
vacation-minded Americans may 20
or write for every conceivable and
minute detail of touring in the coun-
try that intrigues them. The sys-
tenn has paid big dividends.
Scanning data on expenditures OF
billions for American travel abroad.
the administration was sold on the
travel bureau idea on dollars and
cents basis. Legislation to set up
a similar government agency. to pro-
mote American travel among Euro
peans as we'll as Americans. failed
to survive lastsninute congressional
jams, although the bills had wide
support. Finally. the United States
Travel Bureau-the one that staged
the cruise to Puerto Rico early last
summer-was set up with emergency
funds under the Interior Depart
ment. A bill has been drawn for
action in the next session of Con-
gress, making the bureau perma-
nent and calling for Offices abroad
to blaze trails in America for the
European traveller.
Not yet all-knowing about the
American scene, the bureau is stor-
ing at its fingertips in the Wash
ington headquarters Office data that
eventually will become the last and
authoritative word for planning va
TRAVEL.