The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-02-10
ENGINEERS BLAMED
FOR PARIS FLOODS
Mason Says Restoration Will Be
Merely StupendOus oppOr-
tunity For Graft.

PARIS, Feb. 10.-The onslaught OF
reproof and reproach TO which the On.
cheering profession is now subjected
In France on the theory that it's mem.
bers are responsible for the tnvasion
or Paris by the floods is bitter IN the
eXtrem me.
Frederic Mason, OF the French
academy asks who are more nefarious
the parliamentarians or the engineers
and substantially declares that the
latter are.
lie says that the presumptuous and
arrogant confidence OF the engineera
IN their dry formulate prevents them
from seeing plain facts, OF which the
Verlest ignoramus would take cogniz.
ance, such for instance, as that the
windows which open on the river only
a few feet above its ordinary level ali
along the subway that skirts it's left
bank invite disaster. He predicts
that once the city is dried and scour-
ed out the engineers will sketch out
plans for its restoration, the CHER
feature Of which will be that they will
merely AFFORD another stupenduous oD-
portunity for political jobbers and cor
rupt contractors to make colossal for
tunes.
Charles Bos asserts point-bIank
that Paris Is the victim OF the pseudo
science Of the engineers. The dry
rot OF formal technology, he says, has
done the harm. These engineers. in
their fatuous conceit, commanded
nature, as did King Canute, to pause
az certain point, and nature refused
TO pause, simply because their modern
constructions, which were to have re-
strained her, proved much feebler and
much less the creations OF common
sense and honest workmanship than
those OF the modern engineers who
worked under the Valois Kings and
the Bourbons.
The estimate that the material dam
nge caused by the inundation is az
least equal to that inflicted on Paris
by the Germans and the communists
In 1870 and 1871 has since been con-
nrlned by the opinions OF other writ
ers, majority of whom even declare
that 1t is much greater. Further than
this, vast harm has been done which
1t is utterly impossible to estimate.
The life OF Paris was to a very large
degree disorganiZed for almost a fort
night. In many departments OF bust
ness delays were caused which are
irreparable, as well as others which
1t will take very long time to over
come.
For one thing. the spring fashions
will be considerably later than usual
that IS To say, their FULL. bloom .wsll.
be retarded In all the high-class dress
making establishments i'm Paris,
which, under normal conditions, are
| lighted by electricity. Most OF the
work in these world-famous ateliers
cannot be we'll done without It. These
places were suddenly deprived OF
every bit Of electric light and were
dimly Illuminated with oil lamps and
candles instead. About the same time
the telephone service was absolutely
paralyzed in the whole central shop
ping district. Appointments with fair
patrons to try on gowns could not be
promptly made. Photographers who
make much money every year by pro-
ducing early pictures OF the most
stunning creations OF the seamtress'
art are wringing their hands in de-
SPAR However. IL is the small shop
keepers OF the flooded sections OF the
city who will probably suffer relative
ly the greatest losses OF all. Then
there were whole trades which were
| Indirectly stopped by the food.