Statute Mile

The term statute miles became standard during the reign of Raklin "The True" Diamoniar. This term came to use during his codifications of the laws of the land. Before this codification, people spoke of travel in terms of days, such as Prantz being a three week walk from Lor. This gave an estimation of the time it would take for the journey, but the actual length of the road was not measured. Terrain could vastly change how long a journey took. A journey over mountains could be half the statute miles but take more time than a journey twice as long over flat plains.

As Raklin began improving the roads across the land to advance the movement of trade goods and troops, a problem arose regarding how to pay the workers who improved the roads. Debates broke out about how much should be paid; greed overcame some that were charged with repairing and improving the roads. Raklin realized that he must figure out a way to pay the workers fairly.

He set out one day to view some of the construction. He walked for about an hour before he came upon a group of workers clearing brush and rocks from a road. He brought a great feast with him and settled in with the workers to enjoy a fine midday meal. After dining and speaking with the workers, while getting a good idea of their work, he returned to Prantz.

The next day he had an idea. He sent one of his scouts back out to count the paces that it took for him to get to the place that he had broke bread with the workers the day before. He sent a cart along with the scout which carried a large carved stone; it was to be set next to the road at the spot. The scout started counting his paces as he left the main gate of Prantz. Upon his arrival, the workers set the stone next to the road. This initial measurement would form the distance called statute mile. Raklin now had a unit of measure by which to estimate the costs of road repairs and also true distances between cities and villages across the land.

Some of these stones can still be seen to this day; some more weather beaten than others.