Public streetlight network of Paris, a secular dichotomy. The political trajectory of Parisian streetlight infrastructure from 1878 to 1914 and its impact on contemporary structure.

The Parisian lighting network today has a dichotomous structure, meaning that its architecture differs significantly between its northern and southern sections. This unique configuration not only results in two distinct management approaches but also traces its origins to past technological and political decisions. By closely examining the period from 1878 (the year of the first attempt at electric lighting for a public square) to 1914 (when a monopoly on lighting management in Paris was established), we aim to understand how this dichotomy developed and persisted. This article explores the political and technical trajectories that led from gas lighting to electric lighting and the establishment of a private monopoly on lighting management (under public oversight). Comparing technical maps from different eras and analyzing the arguments behind technological choices sheds light on the political and social forces that have shaped the contemporary form of public lighting in Paris.