Bisbee daily review., 1910-02-18

A VIEW OF PARIS sEowrso THE SEINE
AND SoTHK DAME.
surrounding territory are situated In n
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
10 add its quota 20 the rush OF waters.
cause all the tributaries of the Seine
to ill their banks with turbulent GOOD
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 10 the depth OF the main
river. already swelled by flood condi-
tons in the mountains Of Cote dor.
where it rises. When It is considered
that the banks of the river in the vi
cinlty OF Paris are comparatively low
Il viii be seen that any rise much
above the ordinary viii cause a food
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 its wa
tiers well confined in the main stream.
But scarcely does the river enter the
city boundaries than il begins a series
of serpentinc 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 on the ocean may add to the
difficulty by causing a tidal bore to
back up the river and 10 hinder its
natural outlet TO the sea. The estuary.
too. is blocked by shifting sand banks.
which at times obstruct the natural
Cow of the water.
The city of Paris proper covers
about 10000 acres. of which the Seine
occupies LOO acres. The river enters
Paris from the southwest and, after
making a sweeping bend. leaves Paris
al the southeast. Ii averages two or
three hundreds yards in width.
AS the storm progressed and the
Seine overfiowed 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 coIlapsing. 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-
/, paIiing. hundreds Of helpless people
| cIinging TO the housetops. 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 fine exhibit
ton of pluck and solidarity in the
! face Of her great disaster.
The present food began with heavy
storms on Jan. IL. Besides Paris. the
towns OF Bniancourt. Argenteuil. As
nie-es. Serres. Mendon. Lille. Chalons.
Troyes, Moutereau, lie st. Denis,
Ivry. Vitry. Ms!sons-Lafitte. Poissy.
Tours-sur-Msrne. Juvigny and many
others are severely affected.