LAND USES 



43 



land are at a low level and the rate of taxation is high. It is not difficult to 

 identify these towns b}' observing the above characteristics in the series 

 of maps classifying the major factors in land utilization. The main problems 

 in these towns are either connected with fiscal difficulties arising from the nec- 

 essity of maintaining local institutions, or related to the field of conservation of 

 natural resources. The difficulty in maintaining local institutions follows from 

 the insufficient aniount of productive taxable property and from large overhead 

 expenses in servicing a small local population. Examination of the town maps 

 prepared in connection with the land-use survey indicates that in many of these 

 towns there is a considerable amount of scattered settlement. That means high 

 costs for the maintenance of roads and for supplying all the necessary public 

 facilities. (Map 15) 



Map 15. Towns with Smaller Population in 1940 than in 1880 (Black areas) 



One of the most valuable contributions which can be made to some of these 

 towns by land-use planning committees is to work out the procedure for the 

 gradual elimination of scattered settlements and for the consolidation of public 

 services. By closing some roads which now service only a few isolated farms 

 and relocating the people involved, it will be possible to effect considerable 

 savings. Another possible means of" cutting expenditures will be found in co- 

 operative ownership or joint leasing by several adjoining towns of the equip- 

 ment needed for servicing roads and for other important town activities. In 

 some western states, effective use is being made of rural zoning, whereby' isolated 

 areas or those unfit for agricultural cultivatio.i are being gradually closed to agri- 

 cultural settlement. The application of this measure may be of great advantage 

 also in some rural areas in Massachusetts. It must be recognized, however, that 

 with variations in soil and other natural conditions even over ver^' small areas 

 and with diversity in the types of farming practiced side by side it may be difficult 

 to draw definite lines, except in a few well-determined sections. Any other 

 measures that may be adopted by the towns to reduce their expenditures will 

 relieve the pressure of heavy taxation on agricultural land in the better areas of 

 these towns. 



