March, 1936] Agricultural Research in N. H. 21 



During the previous winter a prehminary survey covering Merrimack 

 County was conducted by the Station under Federal funds as a trial method, 

 and also to develop procedure and methods in conducting such a survey. 



The Public Service Commission supplied large-scale maps in their pos- 

 session, experienced field engineers, an office and field supervisor, and gen- 

 eral information in the files of the Commission for this year's complete 

 survey. 



The Experiment Station made available the information accumulated 

 during ten years of specialized work in this field, drew up the forms and 

 developed the procedure and methods to be employed, provided the project- 

 supervising engineer, and maintained general supervision and advisory capa- 

 cities throughout the course of the survey. 



Actual field activity was started in February, 1935, and completed in 

 August. A copy of the Survey Report comprises ten volumes, one for each 

 district into which the state was divided, and weighs Z7 pounds. The report 

 deals entirely with the engineering problems and economic possibilities of 

 extending electric current to all the unserved areas in the state. It contains 

 over 220 detailed maps of towns and possible extensions and work orders 

 for the same. Complete reports are available for inspection at the Agricul- 

 tural Engineering Section of the University, Public Service Commission, 

 Concord, N. H., and at the Emergency Relief Administration Offices in 

 Manchester, N. H. 



The completed record shows the total possible number of extensions to 

 be 1,526. Of this total number, however, only 132 showed that they would 

 produce sufficient revenue to warrant serious study at this time. 



Over 10,000 miles of unserved rural roads were traveled by the field 

 engineers to obtain the first figure mentioned and to locate 14,301 possible 

 consumers of electricity on the maps. Nearly half this mileage was repeated 

 to arrive at the second figure mentioned. Of these 132 extensions it was 

 found that only 52 measuring a total of 93 miles in length would produce a 

 revenue of $18 or more per mile per month, and that 80 extensions totalling 

 156 miles would produce $12 to $18 per mile per month. These two groups 

 of possible lines were called Class "A" and Class "B" lines respectively. 



Up to the present the costs of line construction and permitted rate of 

 return, per mile of fine, have required about $24 per mile per year to be 

 satisfactory. 



The latest reports indicate that New Hampshire has 66.6% of its farms 

 electrified, the highest figure for any state in the country. Arrival at this 

 leading position is largely credited to the research activities started 1 1 years 

 ago, ancl to the cooperative efforts developed with the Farm Bureau Federa- 

 tion, utility companies of the state. Public Service Commission, and State 

 Rural Electrification Committee. 



Out of this cooperative efl^ort gre^v^the New Hampshire Five Year Plan, 

 w4iich has been accepted by most of the companies in the state. This plan 

 provides that, instead of paying for the construction of the line, as was the 

 old method, customers on a new extension guarantee for five years a monthly 

 return to the utility equal to one-sixtieth of the cost of constructing and 

 equipping the line, and for which they are entitled to consume as much cur- 

 rent each month as this amount of money represents at normal rates of the 

 company, at no extra charge. The plan has operated successfully for about 

 seven years. 



