The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1910-02-10

A VIEW OF AIRS SHOWING THE SEINE
ASD NOTIiE JANE
surrounding territory are situated in Il
shallow basin. surrounded by hills ard
~traverSed by the river Seine. which is
fed by numerous large streams rising
in the mountains within several hun
dred miles of the city on either side
of the river. Rains in the hills. espe-
cially when there is snow to be melted
to add its quota to the rush OF waters.
cause all the tributaries of the Seine
t. fill their banks with turbulent food
streams.
AS there is no other outlet, all these
waters converge into the Seine, mostly
above Paris. Thus the Aube, the
Yonne. the LONG and the Marine riv-
erS all add to the depth of the main.
river. already sweIied by flood cOndi.
tons in the mountains of Cote dor.
where it rises. When it is considered
that the banks of the river in the Vi
cinity of Paris are comparatively low
it will be seen that any rise much
above the ordinary will cause Il GGod-
ing of the great basin.
This condition is aggravated by the
cOurse the Seine takes as it flows
through the city. Up to the very
gates of Paris almost it runs straight
from the mountains, keeping its wa
ters well confined in the main stream.
But scarcely does the river enter the
city boundaries than it begins a series
Of S%erpentine windings. The channel
of the stream is blocked with numer-
u islands, the divided current flow
ing on both sides.
The city is literally built around the
river at this point, and the mad
streams of Il feed. seeking a straight
course, leap over their shallow con-
fines and rush through the streets.
Gales on the ocean may add to the
difficulty by causing a tidal bore to
back up the river inc TO hinder its
natural outlet to the sea. The estuary,
too, is blocked by shifting sand banks,
which at times Obstruct the natural
flow of the water.
The city of Paris proper covers
about 10000 acres, of which the Seine
occupies 1,7G0 acres. The river enters
Paris from the southwest and. after
making Il sweeping bend, leaves Paris
at the southeast. 1t averages two or
three hundreds yards in width.
As the storm progressed and the
Seine OverfiOwed many sections of the
French capital were submerged, in
Guiding the famous Bots de Boulogne,
and fine residences, subways, noted
buildings and historic monuments
were inundated, many of the struc-
lures cOllapsing. ROwbOatS were used
on the flooded streets, the owners ask
ing fabulous sums for removing furni-
ture and valuableS to places of safety.
In the suburbs the situation was ap-
palling, hundreds of helpless people
clinging TO the ~hOusetOpS, the streets
being under fifteen and twenty feet
of water. Thousands of dollars have
been appropriated by the government
for relief of the victims. Private cit
liens also rendered much aid, both
financially and otherwise. All political
differences were buried, and the ia
ton has given the world a fine exhibi-
ton of pluck and solidarity i'll the
face of her great disaster.
The present flood began with heavy
storms on Jan. II. Besides Paris. the
towns Of Billancourt. Argenteuil, AS
nieres. Sevres, Meudon, Lille, ChalOns,
Troyes, Montereau, lie st. Denis,
Ivry, Vitry. MaisOns-Lafitte, Poissy,
Tours-sur-Marne, Juvigny and many
others are severely affected. |