Publicity Work On Tourists

Tue., April 25, 2000

From The Spokesman-Review, June 7, 1922

To the editor of The Spokesman-Review:

I notice efforts are made in several cities to furnish entertainment to camping tourists as well as instruction as to surrounding country, in which various bodies, such as chamber of commerce, ad club and rotary club, expect to participate.

I make two suggestions relative to impressing the tourist as to the wonders of the Inland Empire and the advertisement of the Columbia Basin project. Could not these organizations have moving pictures, showing farm, fruit, cattle and sheep industry and mining and lumbering exhibits and stating what new additions could be added to our manufacturing interests? Also fishing scenes and lake and mountain views with a map showing roads and distance from Spokane, following each group of pictures. This exhibition should be held nightly under a large tent. It would be appreciated by tourists. In this pavilion literature describing each industry or section or scenic point could be put in a rack and the closing announcement could refer to this fact. I believe this procedure would produce wonderful results.

It might also be a good idea to exhibit at the same time the moving picture describing the Columbia Basin project. To follow up on the reproduction of the moving picture I suggest that upon the edge of the lands to be included in this irrigation project, on the great highways crossing the same, large signs to be erected on the east, west, north and south sides, so that the tourist would be immediately informed when he was upon such lands. This would, if he was a prospective settler, lead to inquiries in the towns and be approached as to present prices of lands and what would be the result of the attained irrigation, from the natives of the section.

Even if the tourist were not so interested, the mightiness of the undertaking would be so impressed upon his mind that it would probably be retold on his return home and quickly disseminate favorable knowledge of the project over this country.

I also believe these suggested pictures covering the attractions of the Inland Empire would result in thousands of tourists staying over a week or more who had previously expected to pass right through. Charles Liftchild Spokane

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