Bava Batra

R. Ashi said: Any  path [that runs] along the side [of a field] is crooked, [for] it is near to one and far from another.  But let him say to them, 'Take yours and give me back mine'?  — This [law of our Mishnah] is in accordance with [the view of] R. Eliezer; for it has been taught: R. Judah said in the name of R. Eliezer, [if] the public chose a path  for themselves, that which they have chosen is theirs.  [May, then], the public, according to R. Eliezer, act as robbers? — R. Giddal replied in the name of Rab: [R. Eliezer speaks of] a case where their path had been lost in that field.  If so,  why did Rabbah, son of R. Huna, state in the name of Rab [that] the halachah is not according to R. Eliezer?  The reporter of the one statement is not the reporter of the other.  What, then,  is the reason [for the law of our Mishnah]?  — [The reason is derived] from that of Rab Judah; for Rab Judah said: A path of which the public has taken possession  must not be destroyed.  Whereby does the public acquire possession [of the path, according to] R. Eliezer?  By walking; for it has been taught: If he walked in it  through the length of it and through the breadth of it, he has acquired the place where he walked — these are the words of R. Eliezer. And the Sages say: Walking is of no avail unless he has taken possession.  R. Eleazar said: What is the reason of R. Eliezer? — For it is written, Arise walk through the land in the length of it and in the breadth of it,' for I will give it unto thee.  And the Rabbis?  — There, He said to him thus  only because of [His] love for Abraham, that his children may easily conquer [the land]. R. Jose, son of R. Hanina, said: The Sages agree with R. Eleazar in [the case of] a path of vineyards. Since it was made [only] for walking it is acquired by walking. When they came before R. Isaac b. Ammi [with the case of one who sold to another a path in vineyards], he said unto them: Give him [a path so wide] that he may carry [through it] a load of twigs and [be able to] turn round.  This, [however], has been said only [in the case] where [the path] is marked out by walls, but when it is not marked out by walls [the width of the path need be only] so much as [to allow him] to lift up one foot and put down the other. A PRIVATE PATH … FOUR CUBITS. A Tanna taught: Others say [that the path must be of such a width] as an ass with its load may be able to pass. R. Huna said: The halachah is according to the Others. The Judges of the Exile  say: [The width is to be] two cubits  and a half; and R. Huna said [that] the halachah is according to the Judges of the Exile. Did not R. Huna say [that] the halachah is according to the Others? — Both measurements are identical. A PUBLIC ROAD … SIXTEEN CUBITS. Our Rabbis taught: A private path  [is of the width of] four cubits; a path from one town to another  [is to have a width of] eight cubits;