San Francisco water . king re-cipes, social entertainments, and other topicsfor the edification of our knowledge andcuriosity. That Frontinus left us just whatwe want to know was recognized by Brac-ciolini 525 years ago. The value of the DeAquis is determined by the fact that it isabout the only work of its kind in existence. The treatise is very concise, but definitein detail. It gives the history and descriptionof the Roman water system, its constructionand condition; states how much water isused for fountains, state uses, private usesand grants; gives the sizes of taps; tells howthe water i
San Francisco water . king re-cipes, social entertainments, and other topicsfor the edification of our knowledge andcuriosity. That Frontinus left us just whatwe want to know was recognized by Brac-ciolini 525 years ago. The value of the DeAquis is determined by the fact that it isabout the only work of its kind in existence. The treatise is very concise, but definitein detail. It gives the history and descriptionof the Roman water system, its constructionand condition; states how much water isused for fountains, state uses, private usesand grants; gives the sizes of taps; tells howthe water is measured; and gives rules ofmaintenance. The completeness of the reportis indicated by the introduction, a portionof which reads as follows: That I may not by chance omit anythingwhich is necessary for the understanding ofthe whole subject matter, I will first putdown the names of the waters which arebrought to the city of Rome; then by whatpersons, and under what consuls, and in 14 SAN FRANCISCO WATER October, 1925. Claudia and Anio Novus of the great Roman water system, with the Alban Hills in the background. Claudibuilt of dimension stone; Anio Novus, on top of it, of small stone and concrete what year since the founding of the city eachof them was brought in; then at what placesand at what milestones their aqueducts com-mence; how far they were carried in under-ground channels, how far on masonry sub-structures, and how far on arches;—what isthe law with regard to the construction andmaintenance of the aqueducts; what penal-ties enforce it under the laws, votes of theSenate, and Imperial edicts that have beenenacted. Frontinus split his workaday hours inthree ways—supervising the maintenance ofthe system, writing reports, and combatingcrookedness. Toward this last he had theattitude of a true investigator, ferreting outtheft and correcting abuses and mismanage-ment. Obviously his predecessors had beenmen of questionable honesty, and, throughnegligence, the system was
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Keywords: ., bookcentury1900, bookdecade1920, booksubjectwatersupply, bookyear
