The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-02-07

was embroiled by exciting politics or by
war and was glad enough to find some
body who would take care of the city with
out mixing with the general turmoil.
Born at Grenoble, in Southeastern
France, in 1917, he was educated at the
Ecole Polytechnique and the Ecole des
Points ct Chaussees. When % years old
he was sent to Bordeaux as engineer.
Here he remained fifteen years. At this
time the project of the department of the
Gironde, in which bordeaux is situated,
was the afterwards famous Baron Hauss-
mann. This project was closely associated
with the young engineer, and learned to
value highly his intelligence, his taste and
his industry. But NJ. Haussmann did not
remain in the Gironde. The second en-
pire had begun. Napoleon III. called him
TO take the prefecture of the Seine, contid-
ing to him at the time his desire that Paris
should be transformed. Together they
worked out an ambitious plan. But where
was the engineer who could execute it.
Baron Haussmann remembered the young
man at Bordeaux, and in 1854 he called
him to Paris as director OF streets and
parks.
The task which NJ. Alphand was asked
w
nificent city in the world from town
with all the faults of the middle ages,
with cramped streets, sans light, sans air.
To accomplish it he must tear down the
city. relay and rebuild it, and all without
seriously interrupting traffic. He put
himself to the work with tremendous en-
ergy.
From 1854 to 1871 the end of the en-
pire. he conducted the Bots de Boulogne
and the Bots de Nincennes, those beauti-
full parks TO the west and east of the
city, into either OF which all Paris can
pour itself in half hour at cost OF or
4 sous. Within the city limits he utilized
waste lands TO make the charming parks
of Monceau, MontsouriS and But
tes-Chaumont, and he constructed
some of the finest of the great bouIeYards
and avenues. The works were not only
splendid feats of engineering; they were
works of art. Says one OF VI. Alphand' 5
admirers: 1T required a poet TO conceive
the Bots de Boulogne, the Bots de Vim
ceunes. the parks OF Monceau, Montsouris,
Buttes-Chaumont. Alphand was a poet
of deeds. He handled not rhymes but
trees, not syllables but flowers. His epics
were great parks, his sonnets little
In this period NJ. Alphand established a
fine system Of nurseries and lighthouses,
from winch the CITY - SAItiiCi WIN tttCS
and the parks and squares are ornamented
the year round with protuslon OF flowers
and shrubbery.
In ISL the empire fell. The republic
succeeded. Great changes we're made IN
the personnel Of the city, but NJ. Alphand
remained He had become an lndlspensI-
bic man. Several departments had been
added TO his original trust under the en-
pire. Now he was made director OF pub
lie works By 1870 everything pertaining
10 above ground Paris was IN his hands.
Three years later. on the death OF the engi-
neer OF water-woTks and sewers, under
ground Paris was added.
From the time he began TO serve the re-
public until his death he continued the
work which he began under the empire.
The changes he planned and directed
were pgodigious. Wretched quarters have
been com pletely wiped out. Closed
courts. where beggers and miscreants
swarned have been turned into open
squares Damp hoiows have been hLled
IN and made nealthful building SITES. The
health of the city has been so improved
that the average length OF q life has been
increased three years. The reputation OF
being the best lighted city in the world
has been earned. It's street cleaning sery-
ice has been made SO perfect that there IS
not an alley or passage which Is not swept
and washed at least once a Gay. The streets
have been filled with conVenIences and
comforts.
All the changes made by N. Alphand
have been handled with profound regard
for historic associations. No monument
has been removed unless health and clean
I 49, ~