28 



N. H. Agri. Experiment Station 



[Bulletin 298 



Table 12. Average estimated cash living expenses on 2U2 jarms by groups 

 according to sales of agricultural products. 



PROBLEMS IN PUBLIC FINANCE 



The problems of public finance resulting from scattered isolated 

 settlement are difficult to segregate in definite quantitative form. Back 

 areas in New Hampshire are usually portions of towns and the situa- 

 tion and the effect are somewhat obscured by the general condition of 

 the town as a whole. If the area is the back portion of a wealthy town 

 the situation is of minor importance when incorporated with the total 

 financial load. If the area is entirely rural but the occupied places low 

 in value and representing only a minor part of the total tax base the 

 situation may be obscured by the large non-resident tax revenue from 

 timber holdings. 



A balance sheet approach, even if all the data were available, is de- 

 fective except as a rough guide or measure. It is difficult if not im- 

 possible to allocate accurately the cost of public services to any group 

 of valuations. However, the only approach to the problem seems to be 

 a study of the additional costs due to occupation of particular loca- 

 tions. If the entire area studied were one political unit, the case would 

 be more definite, but since this study includes portions of 13 towns and 

 only one entire town, the data made available represent an area cross- 

 ing present minor civil divisions. 



In this area the occupied places account for 14.4 per cent and sum- 

 mer places 15.3 per cent of the total valuations. (Table 2) The wild 

 lands and power line make up a large part of the total tax base and 



