The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-01-30
|SW0LLENWATERS
RECED|NC FROM
| DISTRESSED CITY
Seine Falling, but Dan.
ger to Paris Is
Not Over.
ENTIRE STREETS
THREATEN TO SINK
Collapse of Many Buildings
| Feared, Their Foundations
Eaten Away-Thousands Of
People Are Starving and
Misery Is Increasing.
Pcstilence Dreaded.

Pnrls, January 2e.--sIowly, yer,
slowly. the swollen waters OF tha
Seine, which reached their high mark
MT I: o'clock this morning, are subsid-
ing. ana mt midnight the fall measured
about four and half fnches-not
much. hut enough to bring a sense of
relief to the dcsolntcd and distressed
city.
The danger of some Erent calamity,
such nj has been predicted, now seems
over, although the situation continues
to be critical mt many points within
the city, particularly In the ncishbor.
hood OF the ST. Lnzare Station, where
entire streets ma solld blocks OF
buildings threaten to sink through thu
crust into the waters beneath.
The effect of the removal of the wa
ter pressure hn. been to weaken foun-
greatest anxiety. besides, there Will
he thousands of acres to be cleared OF
repaired when the water has recedcd,
and there is also the possibility of an
epidemic breaking out.
Hastens climax.
1t is generally believed that the
breaking of tho dam at Gennevillicrs
apprcciahly FASTENED tho climax by
releasing an immense amount OF wa
ter. but tho consequences below are
Il crJA
hes, having 10000 Inhabitants arc
completely submerged. tho water
| reaching the tops of the houses In the
lower sections. while tho flood is back
ing, up into the very centre Of AS
nieres.
Certainly 10000 have been driven
from their homes by the flood in tho
valley of the Seine to the hospitals
and other buildings which have boon
placed at the disposition of refugees.
Such dispatches as have reached
here from the provinces indicate
general Improvement in conditions,
except in the lower valley Of the
Seine.
( Il
and traversed the inundated districts
on the left bank OF the river this az
ternoon in an auto-boat. giving par
ticular attention to the region around
the foreign Office. after which they
passed around tho Fiffel Tower into
the Javel district. The premier gave
n categorical denial to the reports
that the government contemplated
proclaiming a state of siege in tho
city.
The French War Cross, the Societe
Des Danes Francaise and the Soci-
etc pes Femmes de France are rem
dering immense assistance to the au-
thorities in the relief of the sufferers.
stations for Relief.
Sixty relief stations have been es-
ltablished in Paris. as we'll as camps
for the free distribution OF soup. food
and clothing In the outskirts of the
inundated towns and villages along the
river.
The local government authorities are
displaying great devotion and zeal In
the work of salvage and rescue. New
ertheless, the conditions, especially in
the country districts, are pitiful. Tho
houses of farmers are submerged to
, their roofs and in many cases the In
habitants have lost verything, in
GLIDING their live stock.
1t Is estimated that the Seine Is
now carrying thirty times the usual
volume OF water at a speed of twenty
miles an hour. During the last lew
/ days thousands of visitors and resi-
! dents have left for London or the R1-
| viera. A number of deplorable Incl
dents have been reported. Several
/ shopkeepers, who attempted to charge
1 quadruple prices. have been mohbed.
While a groceryman who was driven
to tho upper story of mis- house by an
angry crowd. fired revolver, wonnd-
| ing woman. Rowdics have attempt
| cd to pilluse many of the houses and
| at several of tho towns they We're
| driven off by the military.
The explanations of the floods given
by French scientists are of especial
interest Etienno Stanlslas Mouniers.
the eminent geologist. considers the <
phenomenon to be more of geolog-
ical than meteorological nature.
After explaining the action and reac-
ton of tho water In the strata below
the surface, ho declares that the soil
of the entire basin of the Seine and
tho other big rivers of France had be-
como impercaptibly illcd to the point
of complete saturation during tho pre-
ceding three months OF gentle rains.
with moderate temperatures, which res
tarded evaporation. When tho heavy
rains came last week the ground was
absolutely impermeable, and she water
ran Off as IL from n cement floor.
M. Mouniers's conclusion Is that re-
forestation Is the only natural RENE
edy,
Resolutions OF sympathy.
The American Chamber of Commerce.,
presided over by Ambassador Macon,
at a meeting to-day adopted roSosn-
lions OF sympathy. The American am.
basaalor said that both no aud Consul