Note 107 — Introductory material (continued 2)

The staff of an ancient Curator Viarum resembled very nearly the accompaniments of a modern Railway contractor. “Caius Gracchus,” says Plutarch, “was appointed supreme director for making roads, etc. The people were charmed to see him followed by such numbers of architects, artificers, ambassadors, and magistrates: and he applied to the whole with as much activity, and despatched it with as much ease, as if there had been only one thing for him to attend to: insomuch that they who both hated and feared the man were struck with his amazing industry, and the celerity of his operations.”