Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1910-02-24

a VIEW OF PARIS THE SEINE
AND NOTkE DAME.
surrounding territory are situated in a
shallow basin, surrounded by hills and
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 it's quota to the rush of waters,
cause all the tributaries of the Seine
to fill their banks with turbulent flood
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 swelled by flood condi-
lions in the mountains of Cote dor,
where it rises. When it is considered
that the banks of the river in the vi
entity of Paris are comparatively low
it will be seen that any rise much
above the ordinary will cause a flood
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 it's wa
ters well confiped in the main stream.
But scarcely does the river enter the
city boundaries than it begins a series
Of %serpentine windings. The channel
of the stream is blocked with numer-
Gus 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 a flood, seeking a straight
course, leap over their shallow con-
fines and rush through the streets.
Gales OF the ocean may add to the
difficulty by causing a tidal "bore' to
back up the river and to hinder it's
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 1,76O acres. The river enters
Paris from the southwest and. after
making a sweeping bend, leaves Paris
at the southeast. 1t averages two or
three hundreds yards in width.
AS the storm progressed and the
Seine overlooked 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 h%ousetops, 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 ma
ton has given the world a fine exhibit
ton Of pluck and solidarity in the
face of her great disaster.
The present flood began with heavy
storms On Jan. IT. Besides Paris, the
towns Of Btllancourt, Argenteuil, AS
nieres, Sevres, Meudon, Lille, Chalons,
Troyes, Montereau, lie st. Denis,
Ivry, Vitry, Maisons-Laftte Poissy,
Tours-sur-Marne, Juvigny and many
others are severely affected.