364 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 193 4 



This concludes the description of the model, replicas of which are 

 now on display in the United States National Museum, at Washing- 

 ton, D. C; in the New York Museum of Science and Industry; and 

 in the Rosenwald Museum of Science and Industry, in Chicago. 

 Close-up views of the outstanding features of the model are shown in 

 plates 2 and 3, 



COST OF CONSTRUCTION OF THE VIA APPIA 



Based upon the calculation of Leger (4), an average Roman mili- 

 tary road would cost $116,000 a mile to reproduce in the United 

 States in 1926. This calculation is based upon an average road width 

 of 12 Roman feet between side borders, with two margines each 2 

 feet wide, and an agger of 3i/4 feet in thickness ; all built without the 

 aid of statute labor or legionary soldiers. Computed upon the basis 

 of the price of labor in France, in 1875, Leger estimates a cost of 

 $34,200 a mile. According to the statistics of the United States 

 Department of Labor {13)^ the index number for wage rates in 

 1875 was 67, and in 1926 it was 229. Therefore, a comparable cost 

 in the United States in 1926, based upon Leger's figures for 1875, 

 ia $116,300. 



The 1926 cost of the Yia Appia^ however, which was 36 Roman 

 feet in width, with a central agger of 16 feet, elevated curbs on each 

 side 2 feet wide, margines each 8 feet in width, and a total thickness 

 of about 31/4 feet, would amount to considerably more than the 

 average military road used as a basis for the foregoing estimate of 

 cost. The reproduction cost of the Via Appia in the United States, 

 in 1926, is estimated by the author, at $300,000 a mile. 



SOURCES OF ROMAN HIGHWAY REVENUE 



The Roman military roads were constructed by the State and 

 maintained by a tax assessed upon real property. Various means, 

 such as donations, statute labor, and requisitions were used to obtain 

 road funds. 



Before the establishment of the public register of land for assess- 

 ment purposes, the cost of road and bridge maintenance was defrayed 

 from the proceeds of tolls. The law allotted to the Censors, and 

 later to the viocuri and the curatores mam/m, the duty of fixing 

 these tolls, also the making of awards to contractors, and the super- 

 vision of repairs. In time the tolls were collected by a tax-collecting 

 administration, and more regular maintenance was assured by a 

 direct tax. 



The parish and secondary roads were built at the expense of the 

 towns and boroughs, with the aid of special donations, and main- 

 tained by statute labor provided by the owners of adjoining property. 



