The southern sentinel. (Winnfield, La.) 1883-1910, 1886-07-02

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narrower, less high than the one we had
left, and the canal under the Rue de
Rivoli had width of not more than
four feet. We wondered how a boat
coald navigate this narrow passage. but
we did not wonder long, as, nom emf
after stepping ashore, we met party
emerging from the narrow passage,
and found they were 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 is
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 II
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 were iron
rails of a lilliputian 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 a close
squeeze for traveller with long legs, as
the vehicles were evidently planned by
men of less than the average height, but
with exaggerated notions of their own
consequence in the world. Severn q
us had 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
men, who walked on opposite sides OF
the ditch and pushed upon handles pro-
tecting from the side of the vehicle
Part Of the way they went at walk. but
for the greater part of the distance their
pace was quickened into a mild trot.
They reminded me of the jinrickisha
men of Japan, but were much slower;
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 a 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 dImly
lighted, the lights being generally at
the street corners; and sometimes there
would be an entire block without q sim
gle jet along its length. 1t was q
warm day in August, but l had taken
the precaution to bring q light
overcoat. The oyercoat 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 a coat
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 to
visit the sewers of Paris is advised to
take . light wrap of some kind as q
shield against the peculiar atmosphere.
On either side of the archway, close
against the walls or let into recesses,
were water and gas pipes, the latter
smaller than the former and placed above
them. Telegraph wires covered with
insulating material hang from the root,
and ct one point several men were en-
gagged in placing new lines in position.
a large number of wires can be carried
through the sewers Of Paris, and as the
sewers form complete network over
the city, there is very little needof above
ground wires in the French capital. It
3 said that one object of the sewer sys-
tenn Of Paris is to enable the government
10 move troops from one part of the
city to another in case of instruction;
certainly It would not be difficult to
transfer considerable numbers of soldiers
through the sewers, 50 that insurgents
barricade could be fianked
md taken in the rear without warning.
Since the completion Of the sewers
the successful defense Of barricades in
The streets Of Paris is impossible. Water
and gas-pipes, being quite accessible in
the sewers, can be easily repaired in case
Of injury, and the same may be said of
the telegraph wires, but in this secure
position accidents are Of rare occur
renee. No one not connected with the
administration Is allowed to enter the
sewers except by special permission, and
then only when properly accompanied.
e New York were provided with q sys-
lem Of sewers like those of Paris, the