On the latter point particularly he states, that the Curule .ZEdiles were

required to select two persons in each street from those who inhabited it, or owned property in it, who should determine where the public fountain, or hydrant should be placed.

Another strong proof of the regard paid to the comfort and wants of the people, in respect of the use of the waters, is furnished by a Senate decree in the time of Augustus,

directing among things, "that the superintendents of water, whom Caesar other

Augustus, by authority of the Senate, had appointed, should give special heed that the

public fountains, or hydrants, (salientes,} should pour forth uninterruptedly night and day, water for the use of the people."*

While the people were thus gratuitously supplied, and without limit as to quantity from the public fountains, there was a tax levied upon that portion of the waters diverted to private houses and gardens.t

It is remarkable, and quite an object of regret, that Frontinus, whose details as to the

aqueducts are in other respects so copious, has left no record of the rate of this tax, of the principle on which it was assessed, or of its productiveness such a table at this period ;

would have been both curious and instructive. A grant of water for private use was in all cases personal, and ceased with the life of the grantee. The residents of the same neighborhood united in building a private castellum, into which the aggregate for all the associates was received from the public castellum.t