The Magnolia gazette. [volume] (Magnolia, Miss.) 1872-current, 1886-04-02

after stepping Ashore, we met a party
from the narrow passage,
and found they We're visitors like our
selves. They had come from the Place
du Chatelet, and were to embark on the
scows we had just left. When there ID
a rush of visitors the movement of two
parties is timed so that they will meet
at this point; but when the applications
are few and there is only one party it
starts from the Madeleine.
The sewer we entered had walk
about three feet wide on each side of the |
canal or ditch in its center and at the |
very edges of the ditch there Mefe iron |
rails of lilliphtian character. A long
string of little cars, each made to hold |
four persons, stood on these rails and !
above the ditch, and into these cars we
were directed to enter. 1t is IA close |
squeeze for traveller with long legs, as
the vehicles were evidently planned by
men of less than the average height, butt
with exaggerated netieps Of their own
consequence in the world. Several of
us had d hard time crowding into the
limits of these contracted cars, but enter
them we did, and the signal to start was
given. Each car was propelled by two
llltDs Wlo W6lhCu Oh OtPOoibO toittNo Va
the ditch and pushed upon handles pro-
Part Of the way they went at walk, but
for the greater part of the distance their
pace was quickened into mild trot.
They reminded me of the iinrickisha
men of Japan, but were much showers
and suggested to my companion that
the city of Paris would find
it to advantage to import some of the
human steeds of the land of the Mikado.
Having been drawn over Japanese
roads distance of fifty and odd miles
in twelve hours, and on another occa-
sion thirty miles in six hours, was
ready to bet on Japanese jinrickisha
men against the whole of France.
Sitting just over the ditch, we rolled
along in the cars, listening to the sounds
of the vehicles above, which were less
numerous than on the Rue Royal, but
no less noisy, considering their num-
bers, and observing the crossings of
the streets as we passed them one by
one. The streets were indicated by
sign-boards, as already mentioned, and
it was odd indeed to be travelling under
ground and knowing all the time ex-
actly your position in its relation to the
world above. The arch-way was dmly
| lighted. the lights being generally at
the street corners; and sometimes there
would be an entire block without sim
gle jet along its length. 1t was a
warm day in August, but had taken
the precautiom to bring a light
overcoat. The overcoat was useful,
as there was just enough chilliness in
the subterranean atmosphere to render
the garment acceptable. My companion
had scorned the idea of bringing u Goa
on such day, but before the journey
was over he regretted his negligence
ANY reader of this article who may here
after succeed in obtaining permission tt
visit the sewers of Paris is advised tC
take light wrap of some kind as ;
shield against the peculiar atmosphere
On either side of the archway, clos
against the walls or let into recesses
were water and gas pipes, the latte
smaller than the former and placed abov
them. Telegraph wires covered witt
insulating material hang from the roof
and at one point several men were en-
gagged in placing new lines in position
, A large number of wires can be carries
through the sewers of Paris, and as th
sewers form a complete network owe
J the city, there is very little need of abov
ground wires in the French capital.
is said that one object of the sewer sys
tenn of Paris is to enable the government
to move troops from one part of th
, city to another in case of insurrection
J certainly 1t would not be difficult t
I transfer considerable numbers of soldier
| through the sewers, so that insurgent
: defending a barricade could be tlanke
| and taken in the rear without warning
Since the completion of the sewer
) the successful defense of barricades i
: the streets of Paris is impossible. Waite
and gas-pipes, being quite accessible i
( the sewers, can be easilyrepaired in cas-
: of injury, and the same may be said {
: the telegraph wires, but in this secul
e position accidents are of rare Occur
: renee. No one not connected with til
S administration is allowed to enter tf
t sewers except by special permission, an
n then only when properly accompanies
: If New York were provided with sy
d tenn of sewers like those of Paris, I'll
Y problem of putting the telegraph wirt
9 under ground might be solved with cas-
IS On and on rolled the little cars, an
n finally came to a halt at the Place {
II Chatelet, nearly two miles from Il
g point where we descended to embark {
r the scow. On alighting from OF
y cramped positions we gave gratuities
IS the persplring workmen, and then a
il cended the steps and were restored
n daylight. The glare of the sun hs
blinded us until our eyes were accu
l. toned to the change, which was not f
d several minutes.
ID In the same vehicles we might ha
ID been carried miles and miles further
e the authorities had been willing to pc
if nit the journey, but / doubt if any
Y, the party cared for more travel of IL
Sc sort. One mile underground is We
lie much like another if you have no chan
id of weather. The total length of t
to sewers of Paris is more than three hu
" dred miles, and through the greater ps
e. of this distance men can go with eas
a The railroad along which we We're ro !
le in the little cars is ordinarily used I
ut transporting materials for repairing t
s. sewers, and also for carrying watt
m pipes, gas-pipes. telegraph wires, ct
&c to the places where wanted. There
or also an iron scoop or plow, which
ne exactly into the ditch, and is mount
II on one of the cars and pushed alo
e whenever the sewer requires to
lie cleaned. In fact, the whole system is
S, complete as the most enthusiastic c
er zen could desire, and it is no won(
ed that the Parisians are proud of their |
of derurOund works