June, 1937] 



Land Utilization in New Hampshire 



19 



Dorchester. There are prospective sites for summer homes and camps, 

 for which a greater demand may, of course, develop. 



Since the field work was made for this report, there has been some 

 development in Alexandria. Ski trails on Mt. Cardigan were con- 

 structed, the Appalachian Mountain Club remodeled an old building 

 as its local headquarters, and several abandoned places were rebuilt 

 for summer use. Winter sports attracted thousands of recreationists 

 in the 1935-1936 season. 



The future summer development is difficult to predict. A return to 

 prosperous conditions may bring a demand for summer homes by a 

 large middle class group. Present occupants may find this a means of 

 disposing of their farms. On the other hand, an increase in summer 

 occupation by families of modest incomes will not materially affect the 

 earning capacity of the year-round occupants who remain. 



A small farm-summer home pattern of occupation exists in certain 

 parts of the State in which the local operators carry on subsistence 

 farming and work part time for summer residents for a cash income. 

 But this type of occupation is not so likely in this area because the 

 summer residents will only rarely employ services or purchase local 

 products. 



HOUSES 



There were 403 houses in the area not including special lake cot- 

 tages nor buildings in the Lake Tarleton Club development. (Tables 

 6 and 7) Most of the buildings are the old farm homes in various 

 states of repair and use. Those in near ruins were not considered un- 

 less actually occupied. In describing the houses as to size and con- 

 dition, no elaborate criteria were used. Determinations were made 

 from general observations only.^ 



Table 6. Size and condition of houses in the area. 



Condition 



^ An adequate house in this report represents one that is sufficient for 

 the modest needs of a small family. Small represents a house somewhat be- 

 low the requirements of the family with children. Large houses were full 

 two-story houses and larger than most families of modest needs would re- 

 quire. The condition was described as poor if the general appearance from 

 the outside indicated foundations and sills were bad or the roof in poor re- 

 pair. Fair condition indicated straight roof and foundation lines but re- 

 pairs plainly needed. Good condition indicated that the house was fully pro- 

 tected from deterioration. The state of the house as to interior or as to the 

 existence or condition of plumbing, heating, etc., was not considered. Thus, 

 many houses classed as in good condition would not meet the usual require- 

 ments for a family under city standards. 



