jwm

Having read several books on subjects related to 19th century Texas, including one on military history, one on immigration patterns, and two about the 1900 Storm, I've noticed that although the movement of people and goods is always a recurring theme, there is very little discussion regarding the type or placement of transportation infrastructure. There seem to be plenty of resources documenting the development of various railroads in Texas (if you know where to look), and the old alignments are easily witnessed in all sorts of urban and rural environments, even when the old rights of way have since been abandoned.

But with precious few exceptions, the precise characteristics and placement of roads, river crossings and ferries receives little discussion. There is no effort made to describe the width or permanency of a path perhaps carved by Indians, improved by settlers, and later parceled off onto private property, subsequently fenced, and left to become overgrown and to all but disappear over time. Nor is there typically any attempt (to my knowledge) to describe with precision where these paths were.

Does anybody have any resources that discuss this subject matter?

I found a early wagon road that was very interesting to me, and may be of interest to some other readers. I was researching a piece of

property in east Texas that is just down the Sulphur river from Eppersons Ferry on Trammels Trace. The Deed was from The Repulic Of Texas Land Office aorund 1838 for a tract of land that was on the U. S. and Republic Of Texas border, saving a 6 Vara (16.66') strip, along the border, wide enough for two wagons to pass. The old road bed is still visible today.