22 N. H. Agri. Experiment Station [Bui. 296 



the formation and adoption by most utilities in the state of a uniform 

 method and procedure of making rural electric line extensions. 



The filed regulations governing extensions provide for customers in 

 two groups according to the distances involved, namely; 300-2500 ft., 

 and 2500-5000 ft. The monthly guarantee, for a period of 60 months, 

 is established as 1%% of total cost of construction. Provisions for ap- 

 portioning the total amount of guarantee among customers, minimum 

 monthly charges, and requirements of additional customers requesting 

 service from new lines are made. 



Further activity on the part of the State Rural Electrification Com- 

 mittee brought about the de^'elopment and recommendation of a mod- 

 ern design and size of electrical entrance for fanns in New Hampshire. 

 The experience in rural service to date shows a need for greater cap- 

 acity than has been provided for, in many cases, in the past. The 

 features are concentric cable, outside metering, and safety switches. 



The scale of costs for rural line extensions were revised to present 

 price levels after study of the possible changes in design of line were 

 completed. A change in design of line construction whereby the average 

 span between poles was extended to 200 feet with 250 feet as maximum 

 was recommended. Joint construction (telephone and electric line oc- 

 cupying the same pole) was continued as a construction policy, using 

 30 ft. Class 6 poles. The price level, for an average mile of line was 

 thereby reduced from the published figure of January, 1933, of $1280.94 

 to slightly over SI 100.00 for 1936. 



The Station agricultural engineer, W. T. Ackerman, served as chair- 

 man of the State Rural Electrification Committee appointed by the 

 governor to represent in the state in negotiations and conferences with 

 the Rural Electrification Administration in Washingion; as a member 

 of the Technical Committee on Power and Power Distribution of the 

 state Planning and Development Commission; and in an advisory cap- 

 acity to State Comptroller on electric power requirements of isolated 

 state institutions. {State Fund). 



Dairy Farm Efficiency Study 



The economic study of 38 dairy fanns in the Colebrook area showed 

 average gross receipts in the year ending December 31, 1934, of $2624. 

 Gross receipts were depressed somewhat by the exceptionally low price 

 of potatoes which is a commercial crop on most of these dairy farms. 

 The average marketable crop of 1346 bushels sold for approximately 

 20 cents per bushel. 



On the basis of a normal price for that locality the gross income 

 would have been increased by over $200. Milk sales averaged $1501 

 or about 57 per cent of the total income. Thus the farmers in this dairy 

 group depend on other than market milk for nearly half of their gross 

 income. 



In this year the average income was low, and no individual had a 

 high income. The conditions were so adverse that some of the larger 

 farms with hired helj) were at a disadvantage as compared to family- 

 sized farms. 



