The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-01-29
CREST OF FLOOD IS
PASSED, BUT PARIS
IS DESOLATE
River Seine Is Slowly Receding After
Damage of $2So,po,oOo Is Done
in French Capital-Terrible
/ Losses Elsewhere.
It Will Take the People Years To
Recover From the Stagger-
ing Blow.

PARIS, Jan. 29.-Paris has been
saved, temporarily at least. but at Q
'coSt that staggers the mind In it's con
templtion.
When he River Seine. the life OF
Paris and almost its death, was finally
brought TO halt this morning in its
devastating and recordbreking climb
lt had wrought a damage in the city
alone roughly estimated at 5000 600
zoo. with the probability that future
losses resulting from its undermining
pf the city will add at least another
$50, 100000.
From o'clock this morning to 10
=, The Seine receded three inches, and
Mali conditions point to "A continuation
otbt the subsistence.
~, Thousands OF destitute crowd the
acimprovised refugees. They are sick
ioand half famished and the resources
s5Of the city are so badly crippled mat
tche authorities are making slow work
gin relieving their intense suffering.
dn Other thousands are still flocking
to the city and the problem of he fu-
ture care OF these unfortunates is one
that will tax the government for
wmonths 20 come.
50 The calamity IS so great that 1t is
e. too big Cor Paris to deal with alone
and relief measures and the work CT
restoring the city will be the govern
bnent's task.
viii Take Years To Repair.
The worst Is over but il will be a
month before the city mas restored its
fines OF traffic six months before its
sewers and subways are repaired and
PTS broken streets nlended, a year be-
hore the poor recover even partially
tom the blow, and many years before
the financial blight is forgotten.
All estimates OF damage are for loss
blready sustained. What the report
bf the engineers, who, under the gov
krnment's supervision. are to exam
tne the buildings in the IL square
lnles OF flooded territory, may show.
fs problematical
The undermining OF the city may
prove TO be so serious as TO mean the
practical rebuilding of the devatated
lsections. This would entail loss of
millions and make the catastrophe as
lgreat as though an earthquake or
tidal wave had swept the city.
Paris Is practically under martial
law. Soldiers invade every section
land wherever danger is considered
hmminnt, cavalry men or foot soldiers
are on guard to hold back the curious
ipeople. In time OF war the scene
could be scarcely more martial.
Starving People Loot Shops.
Starving food refugese are footing
many of the provision shops. Driven
lalmost insane from hunger they are
adefying the police and even the
soldiers and smashing the windows OF
fshops where provisions are displayed.
The authorities have given orders
Ito arrest but not to handle with un-
necessary roughness the unfortunates
iwho are thus defying the law.
Unless the food situation Is reliev-
/ led immediately-and there Is no pros
Inject of such relef-bread riots are
imminent.
Half the city last night was in dark
ness. Misery and destruction were
everywhere, a heavy rain was falling.
every few minutes recorded some new
lavage. and hope Of ultimate relief
vas all but gone.
When the Parisians awoke today,
it was to hear the roar OF traffic In the
streets. the news that the Seine had
leen checked, to see the long-hoped-
for sunshine and TO feel instinctively
that the city's salvation had come at
the last moment.
The reflex in the attitude and man
ner OF the people was Immediately
/ in evidence and despite the colossal
damage that has been wrought, the
city began to assume somewhat OF its
wonted gaiety. The stores, which
we're yesterday deserted, were re-
I, opened today.
4 Minister Mllle.and, of the depart
ment OF public works, announced to-
! day that the government will begin
an Immediate Official investigation OF
every house In Paris. private and pub
Il lie TO determine It's safety for occu-
nancy. Every house that Is found TO
4 l,e seriously impaired will be ordered
vacated.
The condemnation of hundreds OF
buildings is believed TO be inevitable.
Disease prevention Is the impera-
\ tive need of the hour and here again
the government will step In and run
things with an iron hand. Orders
4 we're issued today for the burning OF
lies OF refuse that have accumulated
in various parts of the city.
Already Paris is planning never
again to be menaced by the rise of the
Seine. Many plans have been adj
vanced. the most popular OF which is
to provide an overflow canal. skirting
the city. in the shape of a horseshoe
and so constructed as TO provide for
the seino's rise, regardless of how
large It may be.
The fan OF three inches was de-
u noted by measurements taken at the
Point Au Change, where the conditions
are more favorable for measuring the
river than at the Pont Royal.
NEW YORK, Jan. 29.-Arrange-
Z ments have been completed by the
4 managements OF the Metropolitan
Opera house and the Manhattan Opera
house, at the request of the members
OF the opera cast in each instance.
4 for benefit programs TO be offered on
Feb. 6 and Z, to raise relief funds for
the stricken Parisians. The announce
ment OF the plans has already been
cabled to the Paris newspapers and