OCR Text |
Show KJ "SEE EUROPE IF YOU WILL, BUT SEE AMERICA FIRST." A conservative cstlmato, mado by reliable authorities, places the amount of money expended in foreign countries coun-tries during tho season of 11)04-5 by American sightseers at ?15U,000,00v. This great sum was paid in large part by men and women in search of hoalth, pleasure or recreation, who, though nativo to tho United States, wore in comparative ignoranco of tho scenic, climatic and industrial advantages advan-tages of that portion of our country lying west of tho Mississippi river. It will, we think, be readily admitted admit-ted that any material part of the amount named above, If spent In western communities, would not only mako for their great financial better ment and upbuilding, but would most desirably extend and Increase the general knowledgo oi wuat tnls important im-portant section of tho nation has to offer to tho seekers for health, amusement, amuse-ment, recreation or Investment, who now crowd foreign capitals and pleas-uro pleas-uro resorts. Wo understand, or course, that the old world will always draw to itself many thousands ot our pcoplo because of Its historical and religious interest, its scientific, artistic and musical advantages, ad-vantages, and wo admit that this is proper and desirable; but wo do be-llovo be-llovo that America, and particularly the westorn portion thereof is entitled entit-led from all tho standpoints or interest to more attention from a certain class of Americans than It has heretofore received. As conditions now exist many of our pcoplo aro heard raving over the beauty of the Trossachs, tho glory of tho Hhinc, tho mognlilconco of the Alps, who have novcr seen and have but small conception of tho grandeur of the Hocky mountains or tho splendor splen-dor of tho Columbia river. In an effort to rectify tho conditions of which comnlalnt la hero mnrin tho Commercial club, of Salt Lako City, has undertaken tho work of awakening awaken-ing interest in this subject among tho business men of tho western part oi tho United States and of tho Republic Repub-lic of Mexico. Arrangements are now being perfected per-fected for a conference of tho governors gov-ernors of tho states and territories affected, af-fected, together with ropresentatlvtb of tho chief commercial organizations of the west and of the railroads operating oper-ating In tho Interested section, at which tlmo tho Commercial club will present for consideration a detailed definite and comprehensive plan of procedure. This conference has been called for January 18th, 190C. |