June, 1932] Electricity on New England Farms 23 



Description. Two-man farm. Family of two adults. Fourteen-room 

 house, with apartment for hired man and family. Medium-sized stock barn, 

 two buildings for handling and storing crop, garage, implement shed, ice 

 house. 50 acres of tillage, hilly, with over 2,000 apple trees. Produced 

 1,600 barrels in 1924. Ten head of grazing young stock, small flock of sheep, 

 2 horses, delivery car, pleasure car, modem machinery. Farm located one 

 mile from state road, two miles out from village. Buildings wired in July, 

 1925. Transformer of 10 K. V. A. 



Equipment. Lighting and Power Circuit Equipment: House lights, 52 out- 

 lets; Barn lights, 8 outlets; Radio; Waffle Iron; Tablestove; Vacuum cleaner; 

 Sewing machine; Washing machine; Water pump; Auxiliary well pump, IVa 

 h. p.; Spray tank filling pump, V^. h. p. 



Heat Circuit Equipment: Kitchen range; Household refrigerator equipment. 



It has been observed that a large proportion of the first rural cus- 

 tomers on new line extensions are confronted with a task of consider- 

 able proportions to become familiar with this new power. "Our 

 chances, in the past, of ever having electric service," said this farmer, 

 '"seemed so remote that we have schooled ourselves to disregard ad- 

 vertising, displays of electrical equipment and educational demonstra- 

 tions on the basis that the less we knew about them the less we would 

 miss not being able to have them. ' ' 



Because of the specialized attention given this farm it was possible 

 to accomplish in a matter of weeks what would ordinarily have taken 

 many months, and the installation of equipment was concentrated in a 

 short period. Much of the equipment was accepted more in a spirit of 

 co-operation in the experimental work rather than in confidence that it 

 would work out to their own advantage, notwithstanding the fact that 

 all the applications were selected for their known stability in electrical 

 experience and nothing highly experimental was included. 



For example, the electric range was questionable to the housewife, 

 who felt that they would not keep it beyond the experimental period. 

 The shipping crate was carefully stored away in the barn loft. Sev- 

 eral washing machines were exchanged and many others considered be- 

 fore the housewife felt well enough informed to make a selection. The 

 same was the case with the flat iron and sewing machine. She had 

 heard much favorable comment in regard to electric refrigerators which 

 had impressed her, and looked forward to one with interest. House 

 lights and the common small appliances were accepted without much 

 question. 



To the man of the house, electric power to replace the old windmill 

 ■ for pumping water offered a known improvement. 



Uncertainty from lack of acquaintance with the problem was evi- 

 dent in many instances, and it was some time before they had a com- 

 prehensive grasp of all the details. Beyond the equipment mentioned 

 it was difficult to do more than interest them with speculation as to 

 possible performance. 



The story appears in Table 5 and graphically in Figure 7. 



The curve for the six months in 1925 represents the use of lights 

 principally, with a flat iron occasionally. In 1926 a moderate increase 

 occurred, due mostly to refrigeration. The range was installed and 

 ready for use in September, but was utilized only rarely at first. 1927 



