New-York tribune., 1910-01-25
PARIS DESPERATE
STEADY R4IN ADDS
TO HER FLOODS.
Thousands Homeless and Des-
titute, but Little Loss
of Life.

OF LTe.
Paris, Jan. 24.-The situation resulting
from the floods is fast becoming des-
perate. The Premier and Minister OF
the Interior made this declaration to-
night. All conditions indicated fur
ther rise of several inches of the River
Seine, and the cold rain, which still con-
tinues, is causing intense suffering
among those who have been rendered
homeless, with little prospect of relief
NJ. Millerand. Minister of Public
Works, after a tour of inspection, said
that If the rise continued nothing could
prevent a deplorable disaster and the
flooding of the most populous quarters
in Paris, but the measures which had
been taken appeared to him to be ade-
quate for the present, but only for the
present
At a late hour tonight the water
which was rushing through the tunnel
under the Quai d'Orsay station burst
through the roadway and flooded the
streets, including the Rue de Lille. the
Rue de Poitiers and the Rue de Belle
chasse, on which there are many aristo-
cratic residences. The sidewalks are
likely to cave in at any time Those
who occupied the houses were hastily
awakened and hurried to places of
safety.
Paris is threatened with an immediate
and complete tie-up. The interruption
of transportation has raised the prices
of food, which is becoming scarce. The
supply of water in seven arrondisse-
ments has been crippled, as the pumping
engines have stopped work and the res
ervoirs are low. The authorities assert
that drinking water is assured. but there
is no water for the industrial services.
which are practically suspended.
The question of transportation is be-
coming more and more difficult, and
most of the remaining lines of the sub
way were forced to close down tonight
because of lack Of electric current.
The Red Cross is organizing aid for
the sufferers. Subscriptions have been
opened and the theatres are arranging
benefits.
The water was less than a foot from
the arch OF the Pont de TAlna at mid
night. The other bridges are not in as
great danger, unless a barge or some
other craft should be swept against
them. Tonight the big sewers in the
Place du Havre and near the Place de Ia
Madeleine burst, threatening the foun-
dations of many houses Part of the
Rue St. Lazare threatens to cave in, and
the whole street has been closed.
The tunnels of the subway now under
construction are flooded. The Orleans
terminus is vast pool, and the en-
sineers fear that the tunnels may col
lapse.
THOUSANDS HOMELESS.
The immense bonded warehouses at
Bercy are beginning TO he invaded by
the waters, and part of the river wall
has sunk at Passy. flooding the streets.
Two thousand persons are homeless at
Alfortville, where the water is twelve
feet deep.
M. I,epine, Prefect of Police, is direct
ing the salvage, which is being done by
soldiers in auto boats, at the risk OF
their lives All the factories above and
below Paris are closed and thousands
are out of employment.
The provinces, so far as it is possible
10 ascertain through the defective COM
,nunications show improvement In con-
ditions In Marne and the Upper Seine
,he floods appear to be decreasing. In
yonre they are stationary, but the heavy
rain has again set it. The Doubs and
caone are still rising, exceeding the
record of 1S4O.
Ar Tours-sur- Marne eight houses and
- rr,,ieny fifteen houses collapsed. The
.hori+tes hive decided TO blow up the
80, and allow the canal to flow into the
r,,,er 10 save the other buildings A
hundred houses at Chalons threaten to
fall.
rhe Se,le presents an awe-inspiring
.,eotacle. A quarter of a million people.
an drenching rain. throng the stone
,,aranets and quays watching the yellow
s+rean. which is crowded with drift
mood wine casks and other wreckage,
rushing seaward.
psremen. police and troops are work
-, ,,ke mad at all the bridges. olsen
.a,rIine bIockades resulting from the
aa,,ng debris. Traffic on the Trailer
bridges has been stopped.
All the cellars along the quays are
suad with water. One OF the chief
aangers is the weakening OF the founda-
sione of the buildings along the water
front by the seeping waters. The re-
,a,ntnp walls of the Foreign Office are
ro,nded by water, and the beautiful
-, in the rear of the building is a
yeritable lake.
~, s,reets around the Chamber of
80, considered unsafe and ali