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Show OUR OWN COUNTRY "FIRST.. Salt Lake City, Utah, Nov. 1. Editor Intermountain Catholic: Dear sir v e Deg leave to invite your auenuun l the movement inaugurated by the Commercial club of. this city looking to the diversion into western channels chan-nels of a part of the tide of tourist travel now flowing from America to Europe. ' A conservative estimate, made by reliable authorities, authori-ties, places the amount of money expended in foreign for-eign countries during the season of 1904-5 by American Ameri-can sijhtseers at $150,000,000. This great sum was paid in large part by men and women in search of health, pleasure or recreation, recrea-tion, who, though native to the United States, were. In comparative ignorance of the scenic, climatic and industrial advantages of that portion of our country, lying west of the Mississippi river. ' It' will, we think, be readily admitted that any material part of the amount named above, if spent in western communities, would not only make for their great financial betterment and upbuilding, but would most desirably extend and increase the general gen-eral knowledge oi what this important section of the nation." has to offer to the seekers for health, amusement, amuse-ment, rlcreation or investment, who now crowd foreign for-eign capitals and pleasure resorts. We understand, of course, that the Old World will always draw to itself many thousands of our people because of its historical and religious Interest, its scientific, artistic and musical advantages, and we admit that this is proper and desirable; but we do believe that America, and particularly the western portion thereof, is entitled from all the standpoints of interest to more attention from a certain class of Americans than it has heretofore received. As conditions Jiow exist many of our people are heard raving over the beauty 'of the Trossachs, the glory of the Rhine, the magnificence of the Alps, who have never seen and have but small conception of the grandeur of the Rocky mountains or tho splendor of the Columbia river. : . In an effort to rectify the conditions of which complaint is here made, the Commercial club of Salt Lake City has undertaken tin. work of awakening interest in this subject among the business men of ' T - J.,. ' ' . . . ' '"'u"',-r.,."A'"i.) m- . . ".J"- the. western .part of the United .States ar.d of th republic of Mexico. ! Arrangements ore now bring perfected for a conference con-ference of the governors of the states and territories affected, together with representatives of the chkf commercial organizations of the west and of tho railroads rail-roads operating in the interested section, at which time the Commercial club will present for consideration considera-tion a detailed, definite and comprehensive! plan of proceelure. This conference has been e-alled for Jan. IS, 19n6. I The particular object of thi? communication is t j solicit the aid of your' paper In making- the movement move-ment a success, it is c.n-nestly hoped that, in view of the great interests involved and tho far-reaching character of the proposed exploitation of western re-Fotirces re-Fotirces and attractions, you will find it consistent with the policy of your papr to lend us your ho-lp. We huve the honor to remain, very" sincerely. llEBEii M. WELLS. I 'res. Commercial Club. Chairman. RICHARD F. MORKIS. Mayor of Salt Lake. l Treasurer. JOHN C. CUTLER, Governor of Utah. SIMON' BAMBERGER. W. P. O'MEARA. ;- JOHN J. JUDSON. : ' , "t ? ;4 ' FISHER HARRIS, -"." Secretary to the Committee. 1 |
