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  • Sanitary & Topographical Map of the City and Island of New York.

Sanitary & Topographical Map of the City and Island of New York.

  • ARTIST: Egbert Viele

  • MEDIUM: Stone engraving

    DATE: 1865

  • EDITION SIZE: Image size 18 1/4 x 83" (46.4 x 106.4 c,)

  • DESCRIPTION: Prepared for the Council of Hygeine and Public Health of the Citizens Association under the direction of Egbert L. Viele, Topographical Engineer. Ferd. Mayer & Co. Lithographers, 96 Fulton St. N.Y. (Printed by).<br><br> This map shows all the original water courses of Manhattan Island, with the street grid superimposed on top. Also, three different kinds of land are shown: Marsh, Made Land, and Meadow..<br><br> Egbert Viele held the popular belief that disease was caused by the “humid miasmatic state” and “poisonous exhalations” caused by excess moisture and poor drainage. Viele argued that drainage and waterways must be considered in New York's development in order to improve sanitation, and produced this map of New York’s sewers, waterways, and natural landscapes to illustrate his point. This map is still used today by building engineers as the springs and watercourses shown are often still there, just buried underground.

  • ADDITIONAL INFO:

  • CONDITION: Good condition and color.

  • REFERENCE: Haskell 1132; Stokes vol 3, p.777-778.

  • CATEGORIES: Maps

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