The seventh installment (paragraph) of the Sesqui-Centennial Address of Sussex County given by Justice Francis J. Swayze on 2 Sep 1903 and printed by the Sussex Independent newspaper.... " THE CHIEF EXPENSES OF THE COUNTY The chief expenses of the county during the first years of its existence were for the fees of the Freeholders, some of whom had to travel more than forthy miles to reach the county seat, and for bounties paid for wolves and panthers. The bounties continued to be paid as late as 1834. Roads, of course, did not exist in the early day, with the exception of the Old Mine Road, from the mines at Pahaquarry to Espohus, of which I have already spoken. INDIAN TRAILS There were Indian trails through the woods, following in all probability the course of the streams. Perhaps the most important was what was known as the Minisink Path; running from Elizabethtown on tidewater, to the Minisink country, along the Delaware. I find references, also in an old return under the date of 1751. to the Indian Path from the Drowned Lands to Pompton. When the settlements increased sufficiently to make roads necessary, the method of working them was forced labor, substantially as roads have always been made and worked in primitive communities. Overseers of the highway were chosen in each township and precinct; they were required to serve under penalty of fine; they were obliged by law at least once in two months to view and inspect all the highways, roads, bridges and causeways within their district and whenever they should perceive any of them decaying or wanting reparation, they were required to call together the inhabitants, who were bound to attend or send a hand above the age of sixteen and under sixty years, before the sun should be two hours high in the morning, with proper tools, and to continue work until sunset, with an hour allowed for dinner." Sort of the other way around now a days..... Cathy DiPietro listowner NJSussex-L