Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-07-30
MILLIONS BROUGHT TO STATE
BY WILLIAM E. CURTIS.
al Correspondence of The Star and the q
Record Herald

Several years ago ex-Gov. N. J. Batchel-
der of this state, who has been prominent in
public affairs for a generation, and parucu-
larly useful in agricultural matters, discov-
cred that the rural population was rapidly
diminishing because of emigration to the
newer states and because of continuous
exodus from the farms to the manufacture
ing cities. After thorough study of this
phenomenon he secured the cooperation OF
then Gov. Goodell, who recommended to the
legislature the enactment of a law prepared
by Gov. Batchelder providing for census
OF abandoned farms and homes and an ap-
preparation of 5000 a year to pay the ex-
pense of promoting their sale to newcom-
ers. The first canvass showed that out of
total of $1,000 farms in New Hampshire
1.4S0 farms with houses and barns capable
of providing comfortable homes had been
absolutely abandoned by their owners, and
for which there were no purchasers. The
state board of agriculture, which was given
charge of the matter, got into communica-
ton with the owners of these farms, had
prices set upon them and then commenced
a systematic effort, by advertising and
otherwise. to secure their sale to rich men
In the cities and elsewhere for summer
homes. The bureau Of agriculture also
made a list of other farms that were for
sale, both those that were occupied and
those that were unoccupied, and advertised
them also with enterprise and skill.
Over 400 Farms Sold.
AS a consequence, since the board of ag
rlcuIture began It's work total of 400
farms have been sold for summer homes.
The number of houses that have been built
or remodeed from existing farm houses by
the purchasers is over 5000 and Gov.
Batchelder says that fifty million dollars is
conservative estimate of the amount Of
money that has been spent In the state for
the summer business
The board Of agriculture has also add
vertised the summer resorts of New Hamp-
shire and the farmhouses at which summer
boarders will be received. By this means
1t - estimated that an average of 100000
people have been induced to come into the
satte each summer since the crusade began,
and have remained for at least a week or
longer, while the permanent population has
been increased about 1000.
The amount of money left by these sum-
mer visitors at the farms and resorts each
year Is estimated at s., 10000, this calcu-
lation being based upon direct inquiries to
the hotels, boarding houses and farmhouses
where they have been entertained.
Since the crusade began 149 summer ho-
tells have been erected, at cost of about
100000. The returns from official sources
show that in some counties the summer
residents pay as high as three-fourths of
all the taxes, and in all Of the counties at
least one-tenth of the whole.
In a single year 271 abandoned farms
were sold to summer residents 200 old
farmhouses were remodeled into summer
homes, 324 building lots were sold through
the bureau of agriculture and the names of
3s6 property owners were added to the d.
rectory OF summer residents.
The largest number of abandoned farms
sold in any one town during any one season
was eight, in New Hampton, Belknap
county, while the town of Sutton. in Merri.
mac county. reports the largest number of
building lots sold for summer cottages.
Work of the State Board.
The board Of agriculture still carries on
its propaganda and real estate business. It
has a list Of all farms. abandoned or oc-
cupied, that are for sale in the state of
New Hampshire. with full descriptions Of
the land and the buildings, the prices and
terms of sale, and In many cases can fur
nish photographs to people who want sum-
mer homes. Ex-Gov. Batchelder, the secre-
tary, will furnish these lists to all appli-
cants and will also send to any address
beautifully illustrated albums containing
pictures and descriptions Of the homes Of
ex-President Cleveland, Senator Spooner
ex-Secretary Hitchcock. Franklin Mac
Veagh. Mrs. John Hay, Winston Churchill.
Augustus Saint Gaudens, Kenyon Cox and
many other summer residents OF New
Hampshire who have purchased and i'm
proved abandoned farms. The board of ag-
INulluTe UOeS not UNDERTAKE 10 negotiate
sales, but acts simply as a bureau of in
formation and as medium through which
the owners or authorized agents Of the
property may be reached. 1t is only nee
essary to address N. j. Batchelder, secre-
tary board of agriculture, Concord, n H.
The farms referred to include from TWEEN
ty-five acres to five hundred acres and even
more. and are located in almost every
capable of cultivation with profit, but all
of them include a certain amount of
meadow and pasture land and some fertile
spots which may be used for growing gar
den truck. Most of them have orchards
more or less productive-apples pears
cherries and plums and raspberries black
berries. currants and other small fruit On
almost every farm also is a tract of wood
land, which. If properly managed. will fur
nish all the fuel that may be needed for
domestic purposes, all the timber that Is
required for building. and plenty of mate
rial for fences. New Hampshire is perhaps
the best-watered> state in the Union and
few Of the farms without running
brooks. some of them being capable of
furnishing water power. while nearly all
may be stocked with fish and protected un-
der the law Of the state. II you will ex-
anime a detail map of New Hampshire you
Will find that 1t abounds> in lakes. One
sixth of the entire area Is water. There are
over 600 lakes and ponds. Lake >Winnt-
peSaukee is the largest and has more than
800 Islands.
" ~ Wv = "a AAAS al NASOA ~ "
The farms of New Hampshire are aban-
doned for several different reasons, viz:
First, 1t is very difficult to make a living
out of the soil here except by keeping a
dairy upon large scale, and that requires
considerable capital and a considerable area
Of pasture Land and meadows to furnish
hay to feed the animals through the long
winters. 1t also requires the assistance Of
several men and labor is exceedingly scarce
Second. 1t is so much easier for farmer
to make a living in the western states,
where millions and millions of acres of land
have been given away by the government
that the younger people of New Hampshire
have for two generations or more been
leaving their old homes and going west
AS their parents havs grown old 1t has
been impossible for them to keep up the
home farm or to hire any one to keep 1t
up for them. Hence when they reach the
age when they can labor no longer the old
people sell off the stock and the imple-
ments, and, being unable to rent or sell the
farm. have locked the barns and the house
and have gone west to live with their chill
dren
Third, many farms are vacant because
| of the death of their owners, whose heirs
| have not been able to find purchasers for
| the property.
Fourth. many farmers have moved into
i the cities and nnanufa ,,iilaoao