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Show GOOD ROADS TO ZION PARK BRINGS INCREASED TRAVEL Zion National Park, October 3. The wonders of Zion National park attracted at-tracted the new record total of 24,303 visitors during the travel year which closed on September 30th according to an' announcement of E. ' T. Scoyen. park superintendent, here today. This was an increase of 2,339, of HTc, over the same period last year. That Zion has definitely taken its place among the great scenic features of the United States which can boast of a world-wide patronage is also clearly shown by the year's travel records. rec-ords. Visitors were registered from every state, District of Columbia. Hawaii, Australia, Canada, Egypt, England, Germany, Holland, Italy, Mexico, Norway, Samoa, Scotland, South America, and South Africa. Detailed analysis of the records shows that of the total number of 24,-303 24,-303 visitors, 21,250 entered in 6,203 private autos, and 3,053 were rail passengers pas-sengers entering by stage. There was an increase in the number num-ber of passengers entering by private means of 2.327, and 1407 in the number num-ber of automobiles, or 29. Travel by stage showed an increase of 12 passengers. passen-gers. Discussing the past travel year, Superintendent Sup-erintendent Scoyen said, "When we consider the features of the past travel j-ear, there are two things which stand out above the others. In the first place the total number of visitors to the park, coming from all corners of the earth, is a remarkable record considering con-sidering that Zion is the youngest park in the system, and that this is only the third year during which definite de-finite encouragement has been given to people to visit this park." "The other feature has been the great forward strides made in improving improv-ing highways to the park. During the past year there was expended, or authorized for expenditure, by the local, state, and federal governments, the sum of $1,580,000 for maintenance and construction of roads throughout the Southwest which will be of direct benefit to Zion park, as well as the entire western section of the country. At no time have highways been in such excellent condition. The cow-trails cow-trails and wagon roads of a few years ago have been replaced by modern gravelled roads. Of the 64 miles from Cedar City to the park all but 11 miles have been brought up to the highest standards of gravelled roadway, and there remains no section in such condition con-dition that it will prevent cars from reaching the park at all times of the year." "Of course" continued Mr. Scoyen, "the feature of road work that is most important to the park has been the starting of construction of the Zion-Mt. Zion-Mt. Carmel Highway, which will no doubt be the most spectacular highway high-way in the world when it is completed, complet-ed, and which will bring all of the great scenic features of Zion, Bryce Canyon, the Kaibab Forest and North Rim of the Grand Canyon on one great scenic loop trip." Mr. Scoyen also announced that, although al-though the 1927 travel year is clos-d as far as the record books are concerned, con-cerned, the park itself will remain open. Regular bus service to the park was discontinued on October 1st. but Zion Lodge will remain ojxti until the 15th. Persons carrying their own equipment for camping can enter the park at any time of the year. |