Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1910-01-24
FLOOD SITUATION
IN PARIS CRITICAL
Seine Has Risen Nine Inches
Since Morning and Is Higher
Than Since 1902.
TERRIBLE TEMPEST OF RAIN.
Eastern, Central and Southwestern
Districts of Franco Are
Greatly Affected.

Paris. Jan. 24-The flood situation in
Paris reached more critical stage this
morning. The Seine has risen nine
inches since O'Clock and the river now
registers 1888 meters at Pont Royal.
This is the highest the river has been
since 1902. when it reached $50 meters,
the highest point recorded in the his
tory of France except in the year 1916
A terrible tempest OF rain and wind
which broke over the city at daylight
only adds to the horror OF the situa-
ton and to the suffering of the poor
and homeless.
Although the waters OF the Seine af-
fuents above the city still arc rising
rapidly, the municipal authorities were
hopeful this morning that the maxi
mum stage of the waters would be
reached by nightfall.
AWE INSPIRING SPECTACLE.
The river presents an awe inspiring
spectacle. A quarter million of peo-
pie in drenching rain throng the
stone parapets and quays watching the
yellow tide, which is crowded with
driftwood, wine casks and other wreck
age, rushing seaward. The water now
Is almost flush with the arches of the
bridges.
Firemen, police and troops arc work.
ing like mad at all the bridges, dis
entangling blockades. and 1t is hoped
that oil the bridges will be saved Traf-
fic on several Trailer ones, however.
has been stopped.
All OF the cellars along the quays
are hlled with water. One of the chief
dangers is In the weakening of the
foundations of the buildings along the
water front by the seeping waters The
retaining walls of the foreign office are
surrounded by water and the beautiful
garden In the rear of the building Is q
veritable lake.
The streets around the chamber OF
deputies are considered unsafe and all
traffic In these thoroughfares has been
forbidden
The tunnel between the DUAL dor
say and tho Quai d d'Austerlitz stations
Is rushing stream
The basement of the Palais de Justice
Is full of water and the first floor of
the central police station Is untenab,e
WATER FAMINE THREATENED
The partial Gripping of the water
supply threatens the capital with
water famine. The police are making
house to house canvass notifying The
inhabitants 10 boil all water used for
drinking purposes and thereby avoid
the danger OF typhoid epidemic
The surface and underground rail-
ways which barely are sufficient under
normal conditions to cope with the
traffic, remain partially suspended, al
though no worse today than yester-
day. Railway traffic, however, now is
utterly demoralized and completely
suspended to the southwark of Paris
The situation at several places up
and down the river is deplorable The
lower quarters of all the towns on the
river below Paris are under water, the
streets of Auteuil resembling those OF
Venice.
A dyke near ST. Germaine broke to-
day. flooding the valley as far as NAL
maison.
The lower portion of Bois du Bou-
logne is a blanket OF water reaching
to Bagatelle. Judging from reports re-
ceived today from the provinces,
quarter OF France is under water.
VALLEYS THREATENED.
Lie eoStCin, NChtt oil anu SQuliedSl-
ern districts of France are terribly
afflicted. The valleys and plains are
inundated and the cities and towns
are in darkness. Troops everywhere
have been ordered to the work of res
cue, but often they encounter the great
est difficulty In driving the peasants to
places Of safety.
The cities OF Montargis, Macon,
Chalons-sur-S and Epernay and
tI. 4,
periencing the most disastrous floods
since 1856. The water in many of tho
villages along the Saone and Marne
reaches to the roofs of the dwellings
At Verdun-le- Doubs. small town
IL miles from Chalons-sur-Saone, the
protecting dyke is breaking and the
town is threatened with destruction.
The factories and mills have stop
ped work at Mezieres. Sedan and
other places in the Moure valley
Great damage has been done to the
beautiful French automobile roads
which have been washed out in many
places. The Garonne and Dordogne
rivers are rising rapidly. The village
OF Carnac is surrounded by a lake
The rivers Rhone and Loire are
falling In the lower reaches. The
situation is greatly improved at
Lyons. Limoges, Troyes. Annecy, and
Auxerre.
1t is impossible to estimate the
property loss. but it VIII run into
millions of francs. Fortunately the loss
Of life has been small
The government authorities have
ordered the projects and military
commanders everywhere TO aid in the
rescue work and to provide food and
shelter for the suffering
DYKE BREAKS AND TEN