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NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Mr George H. Harris has left us an excellent account of the trails 

 in the lower Genesee valley, and his judicious remarks are quoted 

 here : 



In general appearance these roads did not differ in any particular 

 from the ordinary woods or meadow path of the present day. They 

 were narrow and winding, but usually connected the objective 

 points by as direct a course as natural obstacles would permit. In 

 the general course of a trail three points were carefully Considered — 

 first, seclusion ; second, directness, and, third, a dry path. The trail 

 beaten was seldom over 15 inches broad, passing to the right or 

 left of trees or other obstacles, around swamps and occasionally 

 over the apex of elevations, though it generally ran a little one side 

 of the extreme top, especially in exposed situations. . . Fallen 

 trees and logs were never removed, the trail was either continued 

 over or took a turn around them. The Indians built no bridges, 

 small streams were forded or crossed on logs, while rivers and lakes 

 were ferried on rafts or in canoes. Harris, p. 37 



To these general rules exceptions will be found, as in the case 

 of bridges, and sometimes swamps. Mr Harris noted a branch trail 

 from Canandaigua lake to the head of Irondequoit bay, then to 

 Genesee falls and along the lake ridge to the Niagara river. Trails 

 converged above and below Rochester at two points. The trail from 

 Canandaigua was on the Pittsford road, dividing a little east of 

 Allen's creek, and going to Brewer's landing. Several branch trails 

 diverged from it. The other trail reached the river near Franklin 

 and North St Paul streets. 



A trail came to South Rochester from Caledonia springs. Several 

 others are mentioned in and about the city, two being portage trails. 

 There were others about Irondequoit bay, but he differs from 

 Morgan only in added details. Mr O. H. Marshall also described 

 the trails followed by De Nonville's army in 1687. 



Mr Irving W. Coates said that five trails met at Littleville, on 

 the Canandaigua outlet in Ontario county, and traced their general 

 course. Others were mentioned in Sullivan's campaign and in the 

 Moravian journal. 



Mr Jeptha R. Simms mentioned several trails in Schoharie county, 

 with more details than Morgan gave. In Ulster county a great 

 trail started from Saugerties, followed the Esopus, crossing to the 



