THE SURVEY 493 



of these pins, following from pin to pin so as to include the 

 least amount of territory while enclosing every pin. This 

 thread line became the boundary of the trade zone. After the 

 trade zone of each of the twelve centers was marked out in 

 this way, the common territory where zones overlap, with 

 homes trading at more than one village was colored alike and 

 called neutral ground. Each community was given its own 

 color. Then round, white seals were used to designate the 

 homes that were found to use the same trade center. In like 

 manner each set of maps was made in water colors. 



Trade Zones. Surrounding each village or city center is an 

 area or zone of land including farm homes that trade regularly 

 at the center. This zone is irregular in shape, due to such fac- 

 tors as irregular roads, lakes, marshes, and varying distances 

 of the trade centers from one another. No village or city is 

 found in the county without its farm trade zone, and within this 

 zone the number of farm homes closely approximates the num- 

 ber of homes at the center. Accessibility seems to be the largest 

 factor in determining the regular trade center for any farm 

 home. 



The trade areas of adjacent centers have a tendency to overlap 

 a little, producing a belt from one to two miles in width, of 

 neutral or common trading territory. Farmers living about 

 half-way between centers have a double, or in some cases, triple 

 trading opportunity. 



These trade zone lines run, moreover, without regard to the 

 political lines of the township, county, and state. 



The farm homes in the same trade zone use the four, five, or six 

 main roads leading to the village center more frequently than 

 any other extended network of highways. 



These families, obviously, have at least a passing acquaint- 

 ance with one another. At the village they meet casually, at 

 least, with farm families from the whole zone. This trade zone 

 acquaintance at the village center is probably wider for each 

 farm home than any other area of its farm acquaintance. 



The trade zones of a county are subject to extension ami 

 shrinkage with the growth of village centers in number, size 

 and efficiency. A particularly aggressive business spirit in 

 any center, shown by advertising, efficient methods of buying 



