engineering

Monograph on rivers, torrents and inland navigation
5. FA BR E , Jean Antoine. Essai sur la théorie des
torrens et des rivières, contenant les moyens les plus
simples d’en empêcher les ravages, d’en rétrécir le lit &
d’en faciliter la navigation, le hallage & la flottaison.
Accompagné d’une discussion sur la navigation
intérieure de la France; et terminé par le projet de
rendre Paris, port maritime en faisant remonter à la
voile, par la Seine, les navires qui s’arrêtent à Rouen.
Paris, Bidault, 1797. 4º (29 × 21.5 cm). With 8 folding
engraved plates, showing how to determine the drop of
a river, the contents of water, how to change currents,
how to create different effects with different dyke
constructions, etc. Contemporary mottled calf, goldtooled
spine, in the style of Bradel & Derôme. € 750
Rare work on rivers, torrents and inland navigation. Jean
Antoine Fabre (1749–1834), an hydraulic engineer, systematically
describes the origin, conditions of rivers and
torrents and offers advice on how to change their course
and/or prevent them from causing damage. He argues
against the deforestation of mountain slopes, gives advice
on how to cultivate agricultural areas on hillsides and
discusses different dyke constructions. In the third part
of his work, he deals with inland navigation and gives a
survey of the situation on several French rivers. He finally
launches a plan to transform Paris into an harbour by
forcing the current to deepen the rather shallow Seine,
thereby enabling larger ships to reach the capital.
A few leaves slightly foxed, pages 137–141 with lower
margins/corner damaged; binding slightly rubbed, some
repairs to spine. A well preserved copy with ample margins
of this intriguing work on hydrology and navigation.
Brunet II, col. 1148; Ward 765; for Fabre: Poggendorf I, col. 711.