 On the road side was the so-called serial number ("Reihennummer") with which all roadside columns and mileposts were numbered in sequence.Because a number was assigned every quarter of a mile, each full-milepost had a serial number divisible by four.The half mile stone ("Halbmeilensäule"), also called the league post ("Stundensäule") because the league corresponded to half a mile, had a lower pedestal surmounted by a shaft that tapered from top to bottom.