The Washington herald., 1910-01-27

Water bubbles through In the most un-
expected places. Workmen were en-
ployed on the main boulevards to-day
seeking holes in the paving, and wherever
they found crack it was cemented-
a large part of the thoroughfare in
front OF the st. Lazaipe Railway Station
was closed by ropes lest the street sub
side. The same thing was done in Rue
Royale, facing the Church OF the Made
leiue.
A main sewer at Clichy, the largest
drain in Paris, burst this morning. The
possibility OF other sewers bursting is
one OF the gravest factors n the outlook.
The sanitary officials are gravely con-
cerned because the river and its over
flow are already contaminated by refuse
OF all sorts, washed down by the torrents.
The street sweepings are usually loaded
On barges and towed away but the block
ade Of the bridges now prevents this be-
ing done, and for the last few days the
sweepings have been dumped in the river
This may lead to disease.
Water supply Cut on.
The drinking water supply has been
cut in some parts Of the city owing 10 its
contamination. It IS doubtful whether
the water now supplied everywhere In the
city can be safely consumed even when
It is boiled. Incidentally this has greatly
~ 70
Another serious problem is the dis
posal Of the dead. Some Of the ceme-
teries are deeply flooded. One in ar
eastern suburb is under water to the
-. cross on the mortuary chapel Many
bodies are awaiting burial in the city.
Business is greatly hampered, and fl
some districts it is stopped altogether
either been flooded or deprived Of power
and light
The men and women thrown out Of
work by the inun5ation must number
many thousands. Even in some Of tn,
unfooded parts Of the city as little work
as possible is being done. as the clerks
and other employees living in the suburb:
ployment or are busy rescuing their prop
erty at home.
Hotels Are Crowded.
The hotels are crowded with wealthy
suburbanites, who have abandoned theil
residences rather than suffer inconven-
fence or worse from the floods. They art
in many cases charged high prices. Ever
then they Go not always escape the wa
ter. The food invaded the Hotel Con
tnental tonight. stopped the electric sup
ply, and upset the kitchen arrangements
The restaurants everywhere are doiny
increased business. EousehOldeTs bein.
unable to cook at home, owing to lacl
of fuel and other difficulties The price
Of perishable food continues to rise stead
fly. People with small incomes are bein,
pinched by these inconveniences, but thei
dilemma Is merely picnic compared witt
the sufferings of the thousands who havt
been driven from their homes.
It is figured that there are at least Is. 90
persons sheltered tonight in public build
iugs. glad TO have a straw mattress t
lie on and a soldiers rations for supper
Their homes and furniture either lie soak
ing in mud and water or are completen
wrecked for a number OF slight house
I'm the poor suburban districts collapse,
beneath the pressure OF the food
Work of Relief Begun.
The city Itself has been divided int,
five main sections for the distribution O
relief under the joint control of the mill
tary governor and the prefect Of police
The work done for the public under thei
direction is Of incalculable value. TIL,
soldiers and police are SSLsy from dawr
10 dark, spending most of their time IL
wading in mud and water above theil
knees distributing food and Tescuing IN,
sick and others threatened by the food.
Many of them have been unable Il
stand the exhausting work Chilled BY
the icy water. and often going for Ions
periods without food they have beer
compelled to go to the hospitals, wher,
come of them have developed pneumonia
The rescuers often meet with the great
est difficulty in persuading people {,
leave their homes This has been par
ticularly the case in the poorer districts
One of these, Javel, a densely people,
area beyond the Champ de Mars. va