AMERICAN INVASION.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIIC, Issue 13607, 29 May 1908, Page 2

AMERICAN INVASION.

"Over 60,000 Americans arc expected to visit London this season, and already the invasion has commenced," said - Ul - Blackball, one of the manageis at Messrs. Thomas Cook, tourist agents. 'Wo have organised something like sixty tours from America for the season at prices ranging from 150 do!s. to 1,200 dols. "Last year's crops were not particularly good, so that the number of tarineis coming over will not be as large as usual, while the fact that it is the year uf the Presidential election will keep others awav. But there is little doubt the estimate I have given will not be far out. That the season will open early is shown by the fact that already a number ot rich Americans have arrived at some of the West-end hotels. But the real rush begins in Mav and continues until Augus*. ••Of course" the majority of the middle class Americans make for the Bloomsbury district where there are hundreds of boarding houses. It is the American colony, Commencing about the middle of next month, thero will be an average of from eight to ten boats arriving m England weeklv, and that will go on until August. As each steamer carries an average of 500 passengers (first and second class), and every berth will be occupied, the estimate of 60,000 k not far wrong. " Some of the rich Americans spend thousands of pounds sterling during their visit to England, and all are lavish, with their monev. Altogether I should say over £5,000.000* of American wealth finds its wjiy into British bund? during the season."'