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UNIV. OF N. H. AGR. EXPERIMENT STATION 



[Bulletin 2i: 



1924, the number of vehicles passing through Keene and Hinsdale, accord-  

 ing to the State Highway Commission, was as shown in Table II. 



Table II. — Vehicles passing through Keene and Hinsdale, Juhj 1-7, 1924- " 



Transportation — Railroad . 



The city of Keene is served by three divisions of the Boston & Maine 

 Eaihoad. One is the main Hne from Boston to Montreal; the other two 

 give good connections to New York, the south and the west. 



Highway. 



Keene is located on two main hard-surfaced highways. One, running 

 through the county from Winchester to Marlow, is the main route from 

 New York to the White Mountains. The other, running from FitzwilHam 

 and Rindge to Walpole, known as the Monadnock Road, is the principal 

 route from Boston to points in Vermont. There are in all 127 miles of 

 hard-surfaced roads in the county. 



The back roads are not very well kept, but throughout the summer 

 months are in fairly good shape. During the winter months snow often 

 blocks the roads, and makes them impassable for autos and trucks. 



Truck lines run regularly from Keene to outlying villages, supplying 

 the latter with goods from Keene wholesalers. Other truck lines also 

 supph^ Keene regularly from Boston, while individual trucks bring food 

 products from Fitchburg, Mass., and other markets. 



Source of Income. 



Manufacturing constitutes the principal source of income of Keene, 

 and is important throughout the remainder of the county. In 1919 the 

 total value of manufactured products in Keene was $8,513,980. 



Articles manufactured in the numerous small factories represent a 

 wide range. Of forty factories, six make chairs; four, pails and boxes; 

 five, textiles; three, shoes; and others, machinery, wooden heels, toys, mica, 

 celluloid, screen glue, loose-leaf ledgers, automobile accessories, granite, 

 soft drinks, polish, overalls, manicuring implements and metal novelties. 

 Such a wide diversity makes Keene particularly free from minor depres- 

 sions caused by difficulties in one industry, and makes it reflect closely 

 the national business situation. 



Agriculture also constitutes an important source of income, which 

 far exceeds the $1,857,000 worth of farm products sold during the year 

 ending September 30, 1924. A large part of the products raised is con- 

 sumed at home. Agriculture is, in fact, a joint source of income to many 

 farm residents with wages received from outside work. Such a combina- 

 tion of enterprises stabilizes the income of the county. 



