The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1875-05-13
A Visit to the Partisan Sewers,
From Appleton's Journal.

sons were clustered around spot near
the basin of the great fountain, which
was playing away right merrily, its cor
nucopia and sphinxes' heads spouting out
glistening streams of water in the sun
shine. Thither we bent our steps, and
discovered that their point of observation
was round opening In the pavement,
around which the sections of the iron cov
ers were sticking up like the divisions of
a dlslocated tan. Nothing could be seen
except the upper part OF very clean and
solld-looklng staircase of wrought-iron,
which wound round in cork-screw fashion,
so that only the first few steps were visible
from above. Down these stairs we went,
feeling very much like Dante at the COM
mencement of his internal pilgrimage
Down we all Went-our party and num-
bers OF other persons-tWlsting round and
round the corkscreW-shaped staircase for
little way, when flight of broad steps
IN solid masonry succeeded, and brought
us in few minutes to the great corridor
which was our destination
1t was not in the least like what we had
expected. 1t was not dark; vaulted re-
cess at one side opening with a grating to
the outer air, and through this grating
the sun was shining, this opening being
apparently on the embankment OF the
Seine, the walls Of which descend far be-
low the level Of the city streets There
was no foul odor, and sense of some
what oppressive dampness was the only
uncomfortable sensation. Far away on
either hand we saw, stretching away, the
long, yaulted, tunnel-like Corridors and
distant lamps shining afar off like red,
tWinkling stars Overhead, on either
side, like gigantic black serpents. we be-
held the huge pipes that supply Paris
with water, which water, contrary to pop
ular opinion, does not come from the
Seine, but is brought from the river Ourcq
by means of five canals These enormous
pipes run along the roofing Of the tunnel,
and are supported by iron shafts There
are more than hundred persons bent on
the same subterranean Journey as our
selves, but there is no confusion, no push
ING or crowding, and we all stand back
against the wall, and wait our turn. The
floor Of the tunnel is laid in rails, and we
see at distance train of low fiat, I'M
covered hand-cars, which, one by one,
are brought forward, and the places. (of
which there are twelve in each cary are
duly filled, each party being kept together
AS each car receives its complement of
passengers, it is wheeled farther along
the track, and this process is continued
till every one is seated Then four work
men take their places as motive-power to
each vehicle two to push and two to
pull-and, as the cars run easily along
the rails, the task is not so hard a one as
it at first appears They are fine, stall
wart-looking fellows, these toilers under
ground. The signal is given and off we
start-nOt into the darkness, however. as
each ear is furnished with tour powerful
lamps. one at each corner, and the rays
theretrom shine brightly on the walls and
roof and flooring Of this strange subtera
mean tunnel. AS we 60 we notice that,
though there is a footpath Of solid masonry
projecting from the wall on either SIDE,
the middle OF the roadway, directly under
the cars, is occupied by q deep channel,
at the bottom of which glides q black,
sullen stream, Now we pass a deep niche
in the wall, with steps of masonry leading
upward, and down those steps rushes the
water from the cutters above to Join the
stream beneath our feet. These inches
succeed each other at regular intervals,
On we 60 faster and still faster, our
motiye-power keeping up steady,
regular trot, and not seeming much ia
tigued or distressed by the toll.
We are travelling along tue great main
sewer under the Rue de Rivoli and paint
Ell plactrds upon the wall, bearing the
name Of the street, from time to time re-
mind us Of the fact. Now we cross other
streets, and read the placarls As we pass
the Rue d'Alger, the Rue du Dauphin, the
Place de Rivol, etc. 1t is all alike-tha
long vaulted tunnel, of pale creamy-tinted
stone; the black coils of water-pipe over
head; the deep inches marking every
corner OF me streets above each niche
WIN miniature CASCADE tumplln9 down
Its steps, ana falling into the stream be-
neath the OIacE, suIlen water under the
car llle IootWayS ON either Slde. ana mere
anu mere a lamp hNed IN the wall and
Always that sense OF 9ioohl ana mystery
ana oppressive dahpnesS; put sun no
| loul Smell NO ia'S, no horrors here ana
| tnere we see hAeu against the wall a TAD
| leC ol Wnle po[celaln bearing a date
these indicate the helght TO which the
waters rose IN the sewers after sundry
great and celebrated storms. One, fixed
high above our heads, shows that on one
occasion the waters must have risen to
within about q foot OF the top OF the arch
~" w. t ' o,'''PPJ " iS"t "iio
chanced that day to be Worklng IN the
sewers, Tor II ne could not SWIM, ne must
lhfalllbIy nave pech drowned Such
catastrophe qua take place before the CON
| Structloh OF lhe new ana enlarged sewers.
SlN Workmeh were employed IN one OF
| The sewers IN the lower part Oh the city,
when 1urlous storm came up, ana the
waters rose 50 rapidly that 1our out OF the
SIN We're drowned, anu the other two only
made theH escape with exceeding dltll-
Guilty.
But see, the cars are stopping. Our
vigorous propellers seem glad enough to
! take breath, wipe their brows, and take
little rest We dsmount from our car
rlages at the word of command from our
conductor, a sleepy looking old gentleman
in official uniform, and we look around us
The vault here is wider, and halt a