Alton is uneven, the soil hard, and
in some portions rocky, but when
properly cultivated produces excel-
lent crops of corn, wheat, oats and
hay. It ranks as the fourth town
in the county in the value of its
agricultural productions.

Bays, Ponds and Rivers. Merry
Meeting Bay, connected with, or a
part of, Lake Winnipiseogee, ex-
tends south, from the lake, over six
miles, where it receives the waters
of Merry-Meeting River. There
are several ponds, the largest of
which is Half-Moon Pond, between
this town and Barnstead. It is
nearly one mile in length, and half
a mile in width.

Elevations. The principal eleva-
tions are Mount Major and Pros-
pect Hill. The views obtained
from Prospect Hill are varied and
beautiful. In a clear day the
ocean can be distinctly seen from
its summit.

Summer Resort. The fine scen-
ery and the varied recreations
which are found in Alton, have
rendered it a popular resort for
tourists. At Alton Bay is the ter-
minus of the Dover and Winnipis-
eogee Railroad ; and in warm
weather, steamboats are waiting
on the arrival of each train from
Boston, to convey travelers to any
point on the lake. There is a fine
hotel at the Bay which is filled
with tourists through the summer.
Many permanently stop here, and
for recreation and health, frequent-
ly take a steamboat ride, visiting
the different points on the lake,
and returning at night. The num-
ber who stay here for a few weeks
or months, through the season, is
estimated at over 400.

Employments. Agriculture is
the principal employment of the
people, although the manufactures
are important. Over 125,000 pairs
of sale boots and shoes are annu-
ally manufactured; 10,000 clap-
boards, 475,000 shingles, 500,000
feet of boards, &c., sawed; 400,-
000 bobbins, 37,000 gross of spools
turned; besides shoe boxes, and
staves made, and various other
kinds of mechanical works carried
on. The village of Alton is very
pleasantly located, and is the seat
of considerable trade.

Resources. Productions of the
soil, $173,600; mechanical labor,
$54,700; money at interest, $10-
200; deposits in savings banks,
$80,072; stock in trade, $20,225,
from summer tourists, $20,000.

Churches and Schools. Freewill
Baptist, Rev. H. Ricker, Pastor;
Congregational, no pastor. At
East Alton, Freewill Baptist
Church, Rev. Mr. _tDavis, pastor.
There are twenty schools in town,
two of which are graded; average
length of schools for the year, thir-
teen weeks.

Banks. Alton Five Cents Sav-
ings Bank (See Tables.)

Hotels.    Cochecho House; at

Alton Bay, Bay View House.

First Settlers. Alton was origi-
nally called New Durham Gore.
The first settlement was made by
Jacob Chamberlain and others in

1770. It received its present name
by one of the principal proprietors
from a town of the same name in
England. It was incorporated,
January 15, 1796.

First Minister. Elder John Ad-
ams (F. B.), ordained in 1811.

Boundaries. North by Winni-
piseogee Lake, north-east by
Wolfeborough, east by New Dur-
ham, south by Barnstead, and west