M. H. Crump
Published: 2017-10-27
Total Pages: 32
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Excerpt from Kentucky Highways: History of the Old and New Systems As early as 1779 the State of Virginia appointed commissioners to construct a road over the Cumberland Mountains to the Open country in Kentucky, and to cause such road to be opened with all convenient dispatch, and cleared in such a manner as to give passage to travelers with pack horses. These commissioners were authorized to call on the local county authorities for guards to protect workmen from Indians. In 1785 commissioners were appointed to open a wagon road from the head of James River, in Virginia, by way of Kanawha Falls, to Lexington. Kentucky became a State June 1, 1792, and passed its first road law February alaw very similar to that of Virginia, which was, in turn, an adoption of the English road law that has prevailed for ages. Under its provisions applications were made to the county court to Open a road to the court-house, to a public warehouse, landing, ferry, mill, coal or iron works, the seat of government, and a few other places. Thereupon three or more suitable persons, termed viewers, were appointed, who examined the route and reported on the same, as to comparative advantages and disadvantages. Summonses were then issued to the owners of lands through which it passed and, if any owner so desired, a writ of adquod damnum should issue. When twelve freeholders are impaneled, who are not related to either party, they meet on the ground in dispute, and while there, on pain of being dis charged from inquest and immediately imprisoned by the sheriff, take nothing either of meat or drink from any person whatever, from the time they shall come to said place until the inquest is sealed. Thus the damages are fixed which the county court levies on the county. About the Publisher Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.