The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-01-25
STREETS Of PARIS
ARE SUBMERGED
Water Invades Fashionable Resi-
dence Section-River Seine Con-
tinues To Rise.

PARIS. Jan. 25.-It is still raining
and the Seine continues to rise at the
rate Of half an inch an hour. Govern
ment engineers after hearing reports
from the surrounding country, ex
pressed the belief that the crest oi
the Hood would be reached this eve
ming. 3~,.l.
The chief endeavor of the authori
ties is now to keep the turbulent
swollen Seine from becoming OBJ.
structed. In which event practically
the entire city would be flooded.
Hundreds of soldiers and policemen
are stationed at the bridges. They
are armed with long pixies continual
ly jabbing at the mass OF wreckage
that floats continually down the river
to keep Ii from lodging against the
bridge piers and floors.
The river is now almost flush
with the Alma bridge and the danger
of dam forming here Is the worst.
The basement OF the home of Ameri-
can Ambassador Robert Bacon, for
merly occupied by Ambassador White.
at Is Avenue Kleber. was flooded to-
day. The house Is also partially sur
rounded with water. II the rise con-
tmues many hours II will be neces-
sary for the ambassador to vacate his
home. Pumps are now at work to
keep the water from reaching the up
per floors.
Water has invaded the lower
Champs Elysee quarter, where many
of the finest homes In Paris, includ-
ing that OF President Fallieres. are
situated. Already the residents in
this section are removing their furni
ture in anticipation Of a continued
rise.
Montaigne sections, two of the Show
streets of the city are submerged.
Several hundreds of people were
temporarily endangered today by a
fire that destroyed the chemical
works at Ivry, suburb OF Paris.
The people were refuged on a point
of land beyond the burning chemical
works and found themselves sur
rounded by the burning building on
the remaining side. The section was
rapidly becoming desperate when
rescuers in boats and RATS took on
the imprisoned people.
The burning OF the chemical works
threw the suburb into panic, as the
fire departments are DO badly crippled
that a fire might devastate the town.
Paris has been so absorbed in her
own danger that but little attention
has been paid to the critical condi-
tions throughout the country. II Is
estimated that one-third Of the coun-
try Is submerged and that such dam
age has been done in the rural ana
wine growing sections as will require
years for recovery.
Cities and towns along nearly every
river in France are suffering incred-
Ible loss. one effect OF which, II Is
feared. will be the Inauguration Of
high food prices. Meat prices have
already been raised 80 per cent,
vegetables 25 per cent and eggs and
butter 20 per cent
The railway lines are so crippled
that but few trains are moving and
the stocks Of provisions are rapidly
being depleted. The government may
take arbitrary action to prevent the
charging of prohibitive prices.
Todays rain Is alternating with
violent snowstorms which have prac-
tically isolated Paris. Telegraph and
telephone communication is crippled
and II is impossible TO learn the ex-
tent OF the damage in other parts
OF France.