The Arizona sentinel., 1886-04-03

cOulu navigate bnlS ndrrOW passage, Uu6
 we did not wonder long, as, a moment
 after stepping ashore, we met a 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
 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 a 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 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. It is close
 squeeze for a 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. Several of
 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 a walk, but
 for the greater part of the distance their
 pace was quickened into mild trot.
 Ill # 4l,o ,.a1-1c cl,.
 men of Japan, but were much slower; and I 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, l 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 dlmly lighted, the lights being generally at the street corners; and sometimes there would be an entire block without sin gle jet along its length. It was a warm day in August, but I had taken the precaution to bring a light overcoat. The overcoat was useful, as there was just enough' chillihess in the subterranean atmosphere to render the garment acceptable. My companion had scorned the idea of bringing 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 a light wrap of some kind as 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 roof, and at one point several men were en- gagged in placing new lines in position. A large number of wires can be carried the sewers of Paris, and as the sewers form a complete network over the city, there is very little need of above ground wires in the French capital. It is said that one object of the sewer sys- tenn of Paris is to enable the government to move troops from one part of the city to another in case of insurrection; certainly It would not be difficult to transfer considerable numbers of soldiers the sewers, so that insurgents defending a barricade could be fanked and 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 easilyrepaired 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 is allowed to enter the sewers except by special permission, and then only when properly accompanied. If New York were provided with a sys- tenn of sewers like those of Paris, the problem of putting the telegraph wires under ground might be solved with ease.
 On and on rolled the littte cars, and finally came to a halt at the Place du Chatelet, nearly two miles from the point where we descended to embark on the scow. On alighting from our positions we gave gratuities to the perspIring workmen, and then as- cended the steps and were restored to daylight. The glare of the sun half blinded us until our eyes were accus- toned to the change, which was not for several minutes.
 In the same vehicles we might have been carried miles and miles further if the authorities had been willing to per- init the journey, but I doubt if any of the party cared for more travel of this sort. One mile underground is very much like another if you have no change of weather. The total length of the sewers of Paris is more than three hun dred miles, and through the greater part of this distance men can go with ease The railroad along which we were rolled in the little cars is ordinarily used for transporting materials for repairing the sewers, and also for carrying water pipes, gas-pipes, telegraph wires, etc., to the places where wanted. There is also an iron scoop or blow, which fits exactly into the ditch, and is mounted on one of the cars and pushed along whenever the sewer requires to be cleaned. In fact, the whole system is as cOmnlete as the most enthusiastic citi- 1