I'm not familiar with the Natchez trace but I'd love to see it.  Michael,
your writing always brightens the computer screen.  I have been wondering
about the sources and meaning of roads, a thought that comes from the
comment about a road museum.  Does anyone know about the development of use
rights and ownership of roads?  I visited the toll house on the Hale? estate
at the end of lake Oswego opposite Cooperstown and again wondered how these
things get put into place.  Were they responsible for the development of the
route or did the ownership of a strategic site between a ravine and
mountainside provide a natural toll site regardless of who built and
maintained the road.

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>From: Michael Davidson <[log in to unmask]>
>To: [log in to unmask]
>Subject: Re: Roman Specs
>Date: Sun, Feb 13, 2000, 11:12 PM
>

> Not far from me is the Natchez trace which pre dates all the Roman roads (I
> believe) as it was an orginal highway for the migration of animals including
> the wooly mamouth where the hunter gathers would (Alabamu and later the mound
> and woodland cultures) would follow and  way lay  the hapless beasts to an
> untimely dinner in their honor.So densely forested was the trace It was said
> that a squrill could travel  the length of the trace( roughly Natchez to
> Carolina coast without touching the ground . Sans chariots ;many parts of
> the Trace were "sunken" roads.So worn in time that the road was below grade;
> and in some cases way below grade in a managerie of colored cuts of sands and
> gravels with massive root systems.
>  It is a pure joy to walk along sections of these old two rut roads in the
> sultry heat of summer as they are leafy and cool and very quiet.You feel
> insignificant  as deer in some cases look down at you from the forest
> floor;and you imagine you are on the status of  a Disney chipmunk "Hi ya mr.
> Deer....
>  I like the way the dense forrest towers above you cathedral like  in wild
> magnolia and water oak covered in honey suckle and blue bell allowing you a
> different perspective of our living on our planet ; one of humble respect....
> live and let live ....this ol road is doing just fine Brere rabbit and we
> don't need  a road museum ...yet....zippy do dah zippy dey...mah oh my  wot a
> wonderfull...... day..Best Michael.