When I compile mathed the usual way, it takes 4 minutes on this box here. If I add a file 'allmath.C' #include'ing all mathed/*.C and compile this, it takes just 50 seconds(!).
Taking into account that using precompiled headers might give us a 40% speed boost this is still 60% * 240s = 150s vs. 50s. So am I right in assuming that the whole make machinery is responsible for the additional 100s? Andre'