AN EARLY ROAD PETITION. It is hardly necessary for me to say to this audience that the earliest roads used by the first settlers in this country were probably the paths trav- ersed by the Indians in going to and fro over the country, and that when real wagon roads were "laid out," as it was called

• Lancaster, Pennsylvania 17603-3125 717.392.4633 • www.LancasterHistory.org WLAN (radio station) Wrightsville, York County York Bus Company York Fair York Railway Company Related Materials: Bridges, Roads, and Turnpikes Collection (MG0183) Processing History: This collection has been documented, preserved

Pennsylvania, fully identifies him as the author. I have, therefore, made copies of both the " Observations " and the letter, as being the earliest reference to this subject. The article reads as follows : February 20, 1772. Number 2252. THE PENNSYLVANIA GAZETTE. OBSERVATIONS ON THE IMPROVEMENT OF PUBLIC ROADS

; thence along said creek 12 perches; thence 354 perches to Robert Ellis' land; thence 85 perches to Moses Martin's land; thence 334 perches to the division line between Lancaster and Chester Counties."* Frank R. Diffenderffer writing of roads and highways mentioned three prominent highways in Earl