CHAPTER I. 



OUE HIGHWAYS. 



There is an old saying that ' the first step in civiliza- 

 tion is to make roads, the second to make more roads, 

 and the third to make more roads still.' 



The construction and maintenance of cross roads or 

 parish highways as distinguished from turnpike roads 

 has from time to time formed the subject of legislative 

 enactments ever since the reign of Philip and Mary, 

 when the foundation was laid of the general system 

 on which the highways have been managed, until the 

 recent introduction of highway boards. 



The Act of Philip and Mary directed that road 

 surveyors should be chosen by the inhabitants in 

 vestry every year, and that the inhabitants should be 

 bound to provide labour, carriages, etc., for a certain 

 number of days in each year for maintaining and 

 repairing the roads. Hence arose what was after- 

 wards ordinarily known as ' Statute labour,' which 

 was performed by farmers and persons keeping horses 



