The Wrangell sentinel., 1944-06-09
(By Associated Press)


 
 ROME When Allied troops in Italy smashed through German de lenses to cut into the Appian Way they entered upon one of the old est military highways in the world and one Of the most durable ever built.
 Construction of this guardian of the Roman Empire was begun in SIP B. c. - Al years after Rome s founding - at the direction of Ap- plus Claudius, Caecus (the blind , famed Roman general, orator and poet. The great engineering project placed Rome in communication with southern Italy. Sicily, Africa and Asia.
 American engineers today say that duplicating the process and materials used in building of the Appian Way, for a similar road. built under modern conditions would probably cost six times as much as a present day wide heavy traffic highway, according to in- formation from the Public Roads administration.
 The longest and most beautiful road in the ancient world, the Ap- plan Way was developed just as Rome began to establish herself as mistress Of the known ear h. Through such construction as this Rome was able to bring new pro- vinces under her might.
 Although Appius Claudius fin ished the Appian Way in stages as tar south as Capua - the then present border of Romes provinces final completion of the road was the labor ot centuries.
 Begun at the Porta Capena of the SerYian Wall, the road, ln it's first stages was extended across the Pontine marshes, below the Liri and Volturno rivers to Capua, 1S2 miles away.
 Later, the Appian Way was con- tinued from Capua to BeneVentum and split, long carriage route eA- tending POP miles through Venusia and Tarentum. and another road reaching out 216 miles to the sea- port of Hydruntum.
 Most ot the highway is still in use - after over 1,9O0 years of service. Historical data indicates that this was the building process used: Between furroWs pIowed 4OI feet apart, earth was removed toI create a solid foundation. A bedding course of sand or mortar was laid. Upon this statumen or flat stones were cemented and pressed. A sec ond bed of broken small stones was formed with lime and mortar fill ing" Then a nucleus layer Of gravel or coarse sand and lime was laid while .hot. The wearing course, fashioned of Wear-resisting stone like silex, or flint-like lava, was cut into irregular poligOns from one to three feet in diameter, fitted to- gether and pressed into the under lying mortar.
 Side curbs or cerpidines projected on either side of the main or vehicle roadway, and on both sides narrow, macadamized, or otherwise treated roadbeds were built for lesser traf- fic.
 Romans apparently kept the cen ter clear for chariots and other war vehicles, and used the side road for troops and pedestrians. Roman en- gineers - perhaps because of mil itary strategy avoided valleys and built their roads right into the heights or sides of hills. Often, they made open cuts in the noun tains or dug out tunnels.
 Aside from the Appian Way. per haps Highway 6, the Via Casilina, that leads back to Rome from Cas- sino, is the most prominent Roman Empire road to figure in current military operations. But the road system of the empire, according to the Itinerary of Antonius, embraced 372 main roads, 53,65S Roman miles in tota length.