New-York tribune., 1910-01-29

most at a standstil and the hotels are
crowded with persons who have fed from
inundated homes The prices of necessaries
are advancing by leaps and bounds as the
paralysis of transportation facilities enter
ing the city extends The Northern Rail
road alone of the vast network of rail-
roads still operates directly into the city,
and the operation of this line is threatened
by the deplorable situation at the ST
LaZare station, where the tracks are sub
merged and the immense building in dan
ger of falling as a result of broken water
mains beneath its foundations.
This last means of insuring suburban
traffic was interrupted for a time to-day
when the tracks of the belt line were en-
quilted at the Rue dc Courcelles. The roads
leading to the city were filled this morning
with pedestrians coming 10 their work and
long professions of refugees, bent beneath
the weight of sacks containing the few
belongings which they had been able to
save. Practically all of them are without
funds.
Accident followed accident during the
day. A chasm opened in the lower Champs
EIysees, epgulhng a cart and two men.
One OF the men was rescued, but the
other, with the horse, was swept away and
drowned.
Toward noon the water gushed out of the
Tuileries entrance to the Metropolitan Sub
way flooding the square in front of
Comedie Francaise An attempt TO keep
the water down in the section of the sub
way at, this place was made by using
pumps through holes bored at distant
points, but with little success.
EXORBITANT PRICES CHARGED.
Within the city there is practically no
means of transportation except by cabs
and taXi-autos, the owners Of which charge
fabulous prices. The steam tramWays,
which were the only surface lines remain
ing after the electric cars failed, were
able to move to-day, as the water had en-
tered the engine boxes. Communication by
omnibus anc auto buses between the two
sides of the river has been suspended owing
to the unsafe condition of the bridges.
At the Place Pereire the main drain ex-
ploded. flooding the subway. and the work
men inside narrowly escaped with their
lives. Another main broke, emptying its
contents into the basement OF the principal
market and destroying the entire reserve
stock of provisions.
The Place du Palais- Bourbon, where the
Deputies are now sitting, is nearly isolated.
boat were trying to deliver the orders of
their commander the boat swept into
the Seine and the corporal fell overheard.
The two soldiers sprang into the seething
waters TO safe their comrade, and after
exciting effort the corporal and one soldier
were rescued with ropes thrown by sailors
on shore. The other soldier was drowned.
The engine room of the paper mills at
Essonnes, near Corbeil. in Seine-et- Oise
is being flooded, and as the mills there
supply good deal of the paper used by
the Paris newspapers the publications in
the metropolis are in danger of having
their supply cut off. The danger is also
augmented by the difficulty of transport
ing the paper 10 Paris
The water is filterlng into the cellars Of
the Central Telegraph Building. in the Rue
de Grenele. 1t is twelve feet deep in the
engine room and many cables have been
submerged and paralyzed.
The Boulevard Saint-Germain is flooded
from the quay TO the doors OF the Min
istry of Public Works and the water is
also tapping the doors Of the Ministry OF
War.
The authorities continue to battle bravely
with the situation, but their resources are
becoming exhausted. The police firemen
and soldiers, who have been on duty night
and day since Monday. are worn out and
volunteers TO aid in the work of rescue and
relief were called for to-day
The improvised dikes along the ouays
have broken. and the chief efforts are now
directed to keeping the bridges free of an
accumulation of driftwood. Men with
ropes fastened about their bodies are
lowered over the sides of the bridges into
the freezing water for this work Red
Cross ambulances go changing through the
streets. The soldiers are replacing the po-
lice on sentinel duty. giving the city the
appearance OF being In a state of siege.
Both the government and the municipal
administration have decided 10 adopt
strong measures 10 prevent shopkeepers
from unduly raising the price of food. but
TIE authorities appear to be concerned
with what may follow even more than with
the present situation. The fear that pesti-
fence will stalk I'm the wake OF the flood is
great and arrangements are being per-
ieeted TO insure the prompt disinfection
and cleaning of the city as soon as the
Wfters subside
a touching evidence of the conditions
ap'Ne the city came to-day in the shape OF
an urgent appeal from Charenton for food
ana fresh clothing for two thousand babies
rescued at Alfortvile and Ivry. who have
been without clothing for four days
When the dam at Gennevilliers a toYn
six miles from Paris broke vesterdav a
wall Of water swept over the plain. sub.
merging the lower quarters of c;ennevilliers
and the neightorng towns OF rolon,bes
ana Ashieres The latter place. which is
a summer resort. is only two miles from