June, 1937] Land Utilization in New Hampshire 51 



probably not due entirely to ehauges or to discouragement in the local 

 agricultural situation. The developing industrial system, the building 

 of railroads, and the conquest and settlement of the West beckoned at- 

 tractively to young men of all classes. 



The rapid decline in agriculture after 1860 was accompanied by mi- 

 gration of families into as well as out of the area. This change in per- 

 sonnel was probably part of the adjustment process. The movement 

 both contributed to the decline and resulted from it. New families 

 with ditferent resources and capacities were responsible for shifting 

 proportions of labor, capital, and land. 



Very few of the present residents are descendants of the original 

 settlers. Of the 85 surnames in the 1840 inventory for Dorchester only 

 Carr, Burley, Eastman, and Smith remain, and this particular Smith is 

 not native to the region. Of the 90 names for Groton only Butterfield, 

 Albert, Bartlett, and Matthew remain. 



Work off the farm continues to be an important factor in the income 

 of local people. This situation in which a considerable part of the cash 

 income comes from sources not directly related to the farm is character- 

 istic of New England. Near industrial centers the occupants of farms 

 or members of their families commute to jobs in the city. A pattern of 

 commercial and small part-time farms often occurs even in the more 

 intensive agricultural areas. 



The important difference in these back areas and the more densely 

 settled regions is that in the back areas total income is very low, em- 

 ployment on local enterprises has practically disappeared, and the 

 people have become more dependent on public employment, such as 

 work on the roads and snow removal. The roads are expensive to build- 

 and costly to maintain on account of grades and hills. Individuals 

 have abandoned farming but remain to build the roads. 



The trend in revenue from property taxes in Groton, as shown for 

 100 years by five-year periods in Fig. 10, is difficult to relate to pro- 

 ductive activity within the town. It does indicate a change in source 

 of employment for the people. Up to about 1918 the total revenues 

 from property taxes were low, but in the face of almost complete aban- 

 donment of agriculture and greatly diminishing population the total 

 tax revenues have greatly increased in the last two decades. 



Historically, agriculture and population have declined definitely 

 and steadily since 1860. An area that once supported thousands of 

 cattle and sheep now has little agriculture left. What factors brought 

 this decline, and are these forces still operating to bring still further 

 abandonment ? 



It is important that we realize that the near abandonment has come 

 about through the decisions of hundreds of individuals over the 3^ears. 

 Rugged individualism and not regimentation brought people out of the 

 area. The lure of better opportunities elsewhere was probably the 

 determining factor in the decision of the individual. 



On the one hand declining pasturage and yields and declining agri- 

 cultural prices, and on the other hand increasing opportunities in in- 

 dustry, railroading, and in prairie farming were the chief reasons for 

 the migration. 



