On Revenues | Page 9

to the ancient authorities the citizens of Athens
numbered about 21,000 at this date, which would give about 63,000 as
the number of state-slaves contemplated for the purposes of the scheme.
See Zurborg, "Comm." p. 29. "At a census taken in B.C. 309 the
number of slaves was returned at 400,000, and it does not seem likely
that there were fewer at any time during the classical period."--"A
Companion to School Classics" (James Gow), p. 101, xiii. "Population
of Attica."
With regard to the price then of the men themselves, it is obvious that
the public treasury is in a better position to provide funds than any
private individuals. What can be easier than for the Council[18] to
invite by public proclamation all whom it may concern to bring their
slaves, and to buy up those produced? Assuming the purchase to be
effected, is it credible that people will hesitate to hire from the state
rather than from the private owner, and actually on the same terms?
People have at all events no hesitation at present in hiring consecrated
grounds, sacred victims,[19] houses, etc., or in purchasing the right of
farming taxes from the state. To ensure the preservation of the
purchased property, the treasury can take the same securities precisely
from the lessee as it does from those who purchase the right of farming
its taxes. Indeed, fraudulent dealing is easier on the part of the man who
has purchased such a right than of the man who hires slaves. Since it is
not easy to see how the exportation[20] of public money is to be
detected, when it differs in no way from private money. Whereas it will
take a clever thief to make off with these slaves, marked as they will be
with the public stamp, and in face of a heavy penalty attached at once
to the sale and exportation of them. Up to this point then it would
appear feasible enough for the state to acquire property in men and to

keep a safe watch over them.[21]
[18] Or, "senate." See Aristot. "Athen. Pol." for the functions of the
Boule.
[19] So Zurborg. See Demosth. "in Mid." 570; Boeckh, "P. E. A." II.
xii. (p. 212, Eng. tr.) See Arnold's note to "Thuc." iii. 50, 7.
[20] Or, "diversation," "defalcation."
[21] Or, "as far as that goes, then, there is nothing apparently to prevent
the state from acquiring property in slaves, and safeguarding the
property so acquired."
But with reference to an opposite objection which may present itself to
the mind of some one: what guarantee is there that, along with the
increase in the supply of labourers, there will be a corrsponding
demand for their services on the part of contractors?[22] It may be
reassuring to note, first of all, that many of those who have already
embarked on mining operations[23] will be anxious to increase their
staff of labourers by hiring some of these public slaves (remember, they
have a large capital at stake;[24] and again, many of the actual
labourers now engaged are growing old); and secondly, there are many
others, Athenians and foreigners alike, who, though unwilling and
indeed incapable of working physically in the mines, will be glad
enough to earn a livelihood by their wits as superintendents.[25]
[22] Or, "with this influx (multiplying) of labourers there will be a
corresponding increase in the demand for labour on the part of the
lessees."
[23] Or, "got their mining establishments started."
[24] Or, "of course they will, considering the amount of fixed capital at
stake," or, "since they have large resources at their back." I have
adopted Zurborg's stopping of this sentence.
[25] See "Mem." II. viii. 1, for an illustrative case.
Let it be granted, however, that at first a nucleus of twelve hundred
slaves is formed. It is hardly too sanguine a supposition that out of the
profits alone,[26] within five or six years this number may be increased
to at least six thousand. Again, out of that number of six
thousand--supposing each slave to being in an obol a day clear of all
expenses--we get a revenue of sixty talents a year. And supposing
twenty talents out of this sum laid out on the purchase of more slaves,
there will be forty talents left for the state to apply to any other purpose

it may find advisable. By the time the round number[27] of ten
thousand is reached the yearly income will amount to a hundred talents.
[26] "Out of the income so derived."
[27] Or, "full complement."
As a matter of fact, the state will receive much more than these figures
represent,[28] as any one here will bear me witness who can remember
what the dues[29] derived from slaves realised before the troubles at
Decelea.[30] Testimony to the same