WEEKLY TRANSMISSION N 14 THURSDAY 06 APRIL 2017 PHOTOGRAVURES FROM POITEVIN TO BALDUS (I) :

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1 WEEKLY TRANSMISSION N 14 THURSDAY 06 APRIL 2017 PHOTOGRAVURES FROM POITEVIN TO BALDUS (I) : BLACK IS BLACK Detail of n 5 contents: A Primary Logistical Challenge Since the Dawn of Civilization II Weekly Cartoon by Théophile: Black Is Black III Baron Haussmann s Favourite Sewer : Eugène Belgrand ( ) IV Sewage Founds, A Selection of Photolithographs published by Belgrand

2 Water supply and sanitation has been a primary logistical challenge since the dawn of civilization. Where water resources or infrastructure or sanitation systems are insufficient for the population, people fall prey to disease, dehydration, and in extreme cases, death. The words "sewage" and "sewer" came from Old French essouier = "to drain", which came from Latin exaquàre. Their formal Latin antecedents are exaquàticum and exaquàrium. The e-bulletin presents articles as well as selections of books, albums, photographs and documents as they have been handed down to the actual owners by their creators and by amateurs from past generations. The physical descriptions, attributions, origins, and printing dates of the books and photographs have been carefully ascertained by collation and through close analysis of comparable works. When items are for sale, the prices are in Euros, and Paypal is accepted. N : BLACK IS BLACK Previous transmissions can be found at

3 Weekly Cartoon: Drouot s Habitués by Théophile Bouchet

4 Weekly Transmission 14 IV Thursday 6 April Baron Haussmann s Favourite Sewer : Eugène Belgrand ( ) "Eugène Belgrand ( ) was a French engineer who made significant contributions to the modernization of the Parisian sewer system during the 19 th century rebuilding of Paris. Much of Belgrand's work remains in use today. Prior to 1850, the water system in Paris was inadequate for its growing population. Waste water was discharged into the Seine, a primary source of the critically limited supply of drinking water. Baron Haussmann, tasked by Napoléon III to modernize the city, appointed Eugene Belgrand as Director of Water and Sewers of Paris in March Hausmann had been impressed by the École Polytechnique graduate's application of geology to water engineering during the design of a fountain in Avallon: Si je fus e tonne de rencontrer dans cet homme grand, chauve dont l exteŕieur campagnard n annonc ait pas l intelligence supeŕieure, un geólogue et un hydrologue des plus forts, il me parut l e tre tout autant d avoir dans son Pre fet un adepte ou tout au moins un curieux des deux sciences auxquelles il consacrait ses loisirs. Une sympathie mutuelle s e tablit entre nous." (Georges Haussmann, dit baron Haussmann, 1851) Belgrand embarked on an ambitious project. The tunnels he designed were intended to be clean, easily accessible, and substantially larger than the previous Parisian underground. Eugène Belgrand took part in the renovation of Paris under the leadership of Haussman between 1852 and 1870: he created an innovating network of underground pipes to prevent Paris from being flooded. Under his guidance, Paris's sewer system expanded fourfold between 1852 and He also addressed the city's fresh water needs, constructing a system of aqueducts that nearly doubled the amount of water available per person per day and quadrupled the number of homes with running water. Belgrand remains famous for his works, consisting the Paris sewers, the aqueduct on the Vanne river between Arcueil and Cachan, the aqueduct on the Dhuis and a dam of Montsouris which stored the water. Public reaction to the improvements was overwhelmingly favourable, supported by tours of the newly constructed sewer system and a series of photographs taken by Nadar, pioneering the use of artificial lighting for photography. Belgrand shared his insights with others, writing "monumental publications" such as this portfolio of photolithographs detailing his work and the science behind it. Belgrand's projects remain "one of the most extensive urban sewer systems in the world" and served as a "transitional phase" leading to modern wastewater processing. To commemorate his work in Parisian civil engineering, Belgrand's name is one of 72 names engraved on the Eiffel Tower

5 Weekly Transmission 14 V Thursday 6 April The dark photolithographs are by Charles Bilordeaux (1846-after 1889), and by his father, the pioneer photographer Adolphe Bilordeaux ( ), student of Le Gray, assistant of Poitevin and one of the founders of Société de Photographie in 1854.

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16 Serge Plantureux - Photographies Cabine d'expertises et d'investigations 80 rue Taitbout, rez-de-chaussée (Entrée du square d'orléans) Paris Nadar, Hommage à Belgrand, Sewer in Magnesium lightning Number Thirteen, Third Year, of the Weekly Transmission has been uploaded with some delay on Friday 7 April 2017 at 10:15 (Paris time) Forthcoming uploads and transmissions on Thursdays : Thursday 13 April 2017, Thursday 20 April 2017, 15:15 (Paris time) The cabinet is open 9-11 am and Thursday afternoon 3-7 pm every other moment by appointment.