The Washington herald., 1910-01-26

Paris. Jan. 25.-If the Seine seems to
be rising less to-day than yesterday. it
is because the sweIled torrent has burst
through SO many openings above ths
rivers usual level and spread itself over
such vast areas that its volume now IS
10 be calculated by breadth rather than
depth
This. too. explains why the bridge
arches. which yesterday threatened TO
be choked. are still clear at their apexes.
The actual volume Of water is still in
creasing. and reports from the districts
bordering the Marne and other tributa-
ries tell Of ever-gathering increases in
the food while the fall IN the barometer
70 an extent not recorded IN ninety years
presages a further downpour.
The day broke over the city amid tor
rents Of rain, accompanied by lightning
and thunder. 4 little later a roaring de-
tonation shook windows and awoke many
sleepers. II was an explosion Of an
enormous store OF acetlc acid through
water invading the vinegar works in
the suburb Of Ivry, three miles away.
Flood stfH Advancing.
The people, turning out 10 their daily
work. found immediate evidence Of the
silent extension Of the waters during the
night. Streets which were clear over
night were being encroached upon by the
advancing food, which had markedly
ldeepened where the previous day it was
shallow
/ To the superficial observer it would
seem incomprehensible TO find places dis
tant from the river bank inundated where
inundation had never previously been
seen. The fact is that since the last
great food many subterranean ways
! have been constructed for various pur-
/ poses, and through these water now
makes flank attacks. creeping miles a5s-
der ground, TO appear in some districts
I far from the riverside
/ Hardly an hour passed to-day but in1i-
cations Of GOOD appeared IN some street
J hitherto free from such visitation. The
/ swollen sewers are bursting under the
/ tremendous pressure Of food water The
Underground railways are proving impor-
/ tant aids in extending the invasion Of all
parts Of the city by the Seine.
( There is nearly three feet Of water in
some Of the streets in the prosperous s..
/ German district. Many wealthy resi-
dents. whose mansions shelter valuable
works Of art and costly furniture. have
been engaged all day with their servants
1 in moving their belongings 10 upper
/ stories.
Fears for the Louvre.
/ There are some fears for the priceless
treasures in the Louvre. but thus far the
great building has been free of water
and arrangements have been made for
he quick removal of the valuables Il
they are menaced The cellars of ths
palace Of the Legion Of Honor and the
! Presidents palace i'm the Champs Elysees
are fun of water. The cells Of the prison
adjoining the Palace Of Justice are flood
/ ed. The prisoners have been removed to
! the st. Lazare prison
/ \ famine of certain commodities OF
daily consumption IS threatened The
ordinarily noisy central markets are com
parativeIy silent and desolste, as vege-
/ tables and other daily produce are unable
/ TO reach Paris. owing TO the flooded roads
and suspended railway service Many
/ acres OF the market gardens around Paris
are deeply flooded. In view of these
conditions. prces have risen considerably
( and will further increase If the position
I is not relieved.
| Tales Of desolation and severe suffering
constantly reach the city from the
suburbs.
Patrol Boats stop LoOting.
The government has done all that is
possible to prevent footing by establishing
/ boat patrols of armed soldiers and police.
/ President FaIlieres presided at a minis
/ terial council to-day 20 discuss measures
/ of relief. Afterward he made a tour OF
/ the flooded districts, accompanied by
! Ministers BRAND and Millerand. PrefecJ
| of Police Lepine. and others
1t was probably the most remarkable
! journey ever taken by d French Presi-
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