It is also remarked by Frontinus, that so " admirable was the equity of our ancestors, that when on the line of an aqueduct, any owner of lands was unwilling to sell the portion required for the public work, the whole farm was bought by the State, and after taking what was requisite, the rest was resold."]: At subsequent periods, it would seem, from a Senate decree, to be presently noticed, that the practice of our own country, on such occasions, was adopted that of taking private " property for public purposes, upon an estimate to be made by good men." We have already seen, that the general charge and control of all the aqueducts, was confided to a national superintendent, who was generally of high rank, and who, by a decree of the Senate, was to be accompanied, when going out of the city on official duty,

by two lie tors, three slaves, architects, secretaries, &c. He also, it appears, sometimes had two adjuncts, who were entitled to like honors. In the earlier period of the aqueducts, all the water was for the use of the people, " that except what overflowed from the fountains or pools and it was expressly enacted, ;

no private person should divert any water, other than that which overflowed." Even II

this surplus of waste water was appropriated to baths, fullers, dyers, &c., and for it

* Frontinus, p. 160. t Liv. xl., 51. t Frontinus, p. 207.

5 See decree, in Frontinus, p. 194. II Front. 192.