#water History

[empirearchives]

Napoleon and Water

Excerpt from the book Aaron Burr in Exile: A Pariah in Paris, 1810-1811, by Jane Merrill and John Endicott

Aaron Burr lived in Paris for 15 months, and this book goes into detail about those years living under Napoleon’s rule. This part focuses on Napoleon’s water related reforms.

———

Napoleon’s fountains gave drinking water to the population, that is, children drank water, not beer. The water was free, not purchased. And the apartment would have had a separate water closet equipped with squat toilets (adopted from the Turks) and a bucket to wash it after use. Some restaurants and cafes had W.C.s, even one for ladies and one for gents. These were hooked into the sewer system that branched under each important street.

Napoleon merits points for delivering fresh water to Paris. If serving Paris with water from the d'Ourcq River by canals was not be a consummate success, Paris gained 40 new fountains, and the emperor commanded that fountains run all day (instead of a few limited hours) and that the water be free of charge.

Perhaps the most laudable of Napoleon’s policies were utilitarian city works, especially bringing clean water and sanitation to Paris. The improvements to infrastructure included new quays to prevent floods, new gutters and pavement, new aqueducts and fountains, and relocating cemeteries and slaughterhouses to the outskirts of the city. This was also a way of keeping up employment. An Austrian aristocrat in town during Napoleon’s wedding to Marie-Louise wrote his mother, in Vienna: “Nothing can give an idea of the immense projects undertaken simultaneously in Paris. The incoherence of it is incredible; one cannot imagine that the life of a single man would be enough to finish them.”

It was a tall order. Previous rulers had been aware of the problems and one big engineering initiative, a failed marvel, had been the waterworks at Marly, located on the banks of the Seine about seven miles from Paris. Louis XIV had it constructed to pump water from the river to his chateaux of Versailles and Marly. This was the machine marvel of its age, with 250 pumps that forced river water up a 500-foot rise to an aqueduct, and it was a sight Burr mentions going to see. By 1817 the “Marly machine” had deteriorated because it was made of wood, and the waterworks were abandoned.

Charles-Augustin Sainte-Beuve, the prominent 19th century literary critic, wrote that there had been “ten years of anarchy, sedition and laxity, during which no useful work had been undertaken, not a street had been cleaned, not a residence repaired nothing improved or cleansed.” Postrevolutionary Paris was at a nadir in terms of both the inadequate, disease-ridden water supply and the filthy streets, which were basically open sewers, deep with black mud and refuse.

“Napoleon,” writes Alistair Horne, “was obsessed by the water of Paris, and everything to do with it.”

Parisians had mostly been getting their water directly from the Seine or lining up at the scant pay fountains. In 1806, nineteen new wells for fountains were dug that flowed day and night and were free. Napoleon had a canal built 60 miles from the River Ourcq, ordering 500 men to dig it, while still a consul in 1801. It brought water to the Bassin de la Villette, opening in 1808. Some doubted the wisdom of having such an abundance of water—an oriental luxury that might incur moral decay. Now the supply of water for firefighting was also much improved. The canal had light boats, as Napoleon tried to make back some of the huge expenditure by licensing navigation, and a circular aqueduct from which underground conduits went to the central city. In 1810, there were still many water porters wheeling barrels through the city.

Now Napoleon attacked the problem of the Seine as a catchall for pollution. Parisians were so used to it that men swam naked in the river and a contemporary guidebook advised merely that the water of the Seine had no ill effects on foreigners so long as they drank it mixed with wine or a drop of vinegar. Thus houses on bridges were demolished and an immense push began to clean and modernize the city sewers.

As this book is about Aaron Burr, here is section about Burr taking inspiration by a new water related invention during his time in Paris:

Remarkably for someone who was very aware of his health, he never complained of the water. He did, however, take an interest in an invention to make it easier to dig a well. When the inventor of a process to make vinegar from the sap of any tree was not in his shop, Burr and a friend, “Crede”, went to see another invention: “We went then to see Mons. Cagniard, and his new invention of raising water and performing any mechanical operation. His apparatus is a screw of Archimedes turned the reverse, air, water, and quick silver. Cagniard was abroad; but we saw a model, and worked it, and got the report of a committee of the Institute on the subject. If the thing performs what is said I will apply it to give water to Charleston.”

[Bold italics for quotations by me]

[animentality]

[zytes]

this manatee looks like it’s in a skyrim loading screen

[detailedart]

Rise and collapse of a wave. Details of paintings by Michael Zeno Diemer (1867-1939)

[classicalcanvas]

Water Lilies painted by Claude Monet (1840 - 1926)

[foolsocracy]

identity reveals are always fun

[dutasacaalejandra]

Modern History

Water conservation has been a critical concern throughout human history due to its fundamental importance for sustaining life and civilizations. Various historical events have demonstrated the significance of water conservation, and their relevance to contemporary issues is clear in the face of growing global water scarcity and environmental challenges. Here are three key historical events that underscore the importance of water conservation and its contemporary relevance:

Ancient Mesopotamia and the Tigris-Euphrates River System: Ancient Mesopotamia, often referred to as the "Cradle of Civilization," was situated between the Tigris and Euphrates rivers in modern-day Iraq. The people of Mesopotamia are known for their sophisticated irrigation systems, such as canals and levees, which allowed them to harness the seasonal floods and manage water resources effectively. Water conservation was integral to their agricultural and economic success.Relevance to Contemporary Issues: Today, the modern Middle East faces significant water scarcity, with disputes over water rights and resource management becoming increasingly common. The historical practices of water conservation in Mesopotamia serve as a valuable lesson for contemporary water resource management, emphasizing the need for sustainable irrigation and responsible water usage.

Ancient Rome and Aqueducts: Ancient Rome is renowned for its extensive aqueduct system, which transported water over long distances to supply cities, baths, and public fountains. The construction and maintenance of aqueducts were critical to the functioning of the Roman Empire, and it exemplifies their commitment to water conservation and distribution.Relevance to Contemporary Issues: Many modern cities face water supply and distribution challenges. The Roman aqueduct system is a historical model for efficient water transportation and infrastructure. It emphasizes the importance of maintaining and updating water supply systems to meet the needs of growing urban populations while minimizing waste and contamination.

Dust Bowl and Soil Erosion in the United States (1930s): During the 1930s, the Dust Bowl was a period of severe drought and dust storms that affected the American Great Plains. Unsustainable agricultural practices and excessive water usage contributed to soil erosion and a significant loss of arable land. This environmental catastrophe led to the development of soil and water conservation programs, including the establishment of the Soil Conservation Service (now the Natural Resources Conservation Service) in the United States.Relevance to Contemporary Issues: Land degradation, soil erosion, and water conservation remain vital concerns today, not only in the United States but also worldwide. The Dust Bowl serves as a historical reminder of the destructive consequences of poor land and water management, underscoring the importance of sustainable agricultural and conservation practices in contemporary times.

In conclusion, the historical aspects of water conservation demonstrate the long-standing importance of responsible water management. These historical events highlight the need for sustainable practices and resource management in the face of contemporary challenges, such as water scarcity, urbanization, and environmental degradation. By learning from the lessons of the past, society can better address and mitigate the water-related issues of today and tomorrow.

[zegalba]

The Ama (sea women) are a group of japanese divers famous for collecting pearls.

Even in modern times, ama dive without scuba gear or air tanks, making them a traditional sort of free-diver.

[icecreamwithjackdaniels]

Albert Bierstadt (American, 1830–1902), "Among the Sierra Nevada, California" (detail), 1868

[licnheartedd]

“regulus fell first but james fell harder” WRONG. james fell in a pool and regulus laughed at him so hard he almost fell in too, and they realised in that exact moment that they’re made for each other

[beautifulvenezia]

Venezia, Italy

[crabsnpersimmons]

It has come to my attention that I haven't drawn sun and moon as chibis yet

I have rectified the situation:

all is right with the world

[livesunique]

Burg Vischering,

Lüdinghausen, Münsterland, North Rhine-Westphalia region, Germany,

@airpixelshots

[madisoncounty]

She swallowed past a lump in her throat, looked up into her son’s eyes. "Paul…I want you to do something for me: choose the course of happiness. Your desert woman, marry her if that’s your wish. Defy everyone and everything to do this. But choose your own course. I…."

LADY JESSICA & CHANI KYNES IN DUNE: PART TWO (2024)

[amnhnyc]

Have you ever seen the Spectacled Eider (Somateria fischeri)? During breeding season, males sport green plumage in a pattern that's reminiscent of glasses. While this doesn't make their vision sharper, it does help males stand out from the crowd.For the rest of the year, they revert to mottled-brown plumage, similar to females, which have more subdued spectacles year-round. This duck is unique in that it lives in the frigid high Arctic. It sustains itself on a diet of mostly mollusks and crustaceans, diving to pluck prey from the ocean floor.

Photo: Olaf Oliviero Riemer, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons 

[biggest-gaudiest-patronuses]

putting my prediction on record now that the coming decade is going to see the rise of viral-marketed fancy at-home water filtration systems, driving and driven by a drastic reduction in the quality of U.S. tap water (given that we are in a 'replacement era' where our current infrastructure is reaching the end of its lifespan--but isn't being replaced). also guessing that by the 2030s access to drinkable tap water will be a mainstream class issue, with low-income & unstably housed people increasingly forced to rely on expensive bottled water when they can't afford the up-front cost of at-home filtration--and with this being portrayed in media as a "moral failing" and short-sighted "choice," rather than a basic failure of our political & economic systems. really hope i'm just being alarmist, but plenty of this already happens in other countries, and the U.S. is in a state of decline, so. here's praying this post ages into irrelevance. timestamped April 2023