Page:History of Barrington, Rhode Island (Bicknell).djvu/550

 CHAPTER XXVIII HIGHWAYS, FERRIES, AND BRIDGES Indian Trails — First Highways — Sovvanis Roads — Liberal Width — Reduction and Sales — Improvement of Highways — Ferries — First to Brooks Pasture— Martin's Ferry — Kelly's Bridge — Barrington River Bridge — Central Bridge. THE Study of the highways of our New England towns is one of the most interesting of local history. The in- quiry as to when they were laid out, why they were located as they were, and the changes in their layout reveal many important and curious phases and facts of the early life of the people. When the settlers came to Swansea and Barrington they found the Indian trails traversing field and forest, and these trails were their guide in the exploration of the territory. Having no wagons at first, the white people followed these trails as far as they could, in making the foot-paths and horse- paths. On the introduction of carts and wagons, these well trodden ways became the foundation for the byways and highways so far as they were convenient for the use of the people. When the town lands were laid out by the propri- etors, highways were provided for of varying widths, from two to eight rods. Some of these were afterwards laid out and made, some were abandoned when not needed for settle- ment, and many were narrowed for economy's sake, from eight and four rods in the original layout, to two or three rods, as we now find many of our town roads. There were three important Indian trails running north and south in the present town of Barrington. Two led from the lower end of New Meadow Neck, one leading to the fording place over Palmer's River at Barneysville, the other