The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-01-26
The Seine Continues to Rise al
Inch an Hour.
GREAT FLOOD OF 1902.
Is Now Almost Certain to Be
Surpassed.
More Streets Are Converted into
Yellow Canals.

Paris, Jan. 2S.-The floods here and
throughout France have reached the
dimension of a great national calamity.
An official estimate of the money losses
Cp to today is $500, 100000, or one-ffth
the war indemnity paid by France to
Germany.
Great sections of the French capital
are under water six square miles of
the historic Bois De Boulogne being
submerged, while the river Seine
sweeping over its banks. has filed the
subways, inundated the Palais De Bour-
bon, the foreign office and scores OF
the historic monuments. which lie
along each side of the river. The many
bridges which span the river are
threatened with destruction as vast
accommodations are banked against them
by on rushing flood
Special meetings of the cabinet were
held today to consider means for cop
ing with the havoc already wrought
nd the greater danger impending.
Military forces have been summoned
from all parts of the country and the
city has been divided into five military
divisions Cor the purpose of admins
tering the work of rescue and relief.
In Paris the situation became more
desperate as the day progressed At
4 o'clock the Rue Royale between the
Place De LaConcorde and the Made
to sink and was hurriedly roped on
Several big assures nave appeared in
the Javel region. The boulevard ad-
Joining the Popte De Brye and the
street in front of the Louvre museum
also began to cave in. Foot passage
across Pont Des st. Peres has been
stopped
The Hocd invaded streets are filled
with row boats. the owners of which
demand fabulous prices for the re-
of
places Of safety
Pantheon Opened to Refugees.
West street at the west of the for
eign office is in Imminent danger OF
collapse. being sustained only by the
compressed air forced from the flood
ed subway which runs underneath.
Should this fail the entire street must
cave in. The archives of the foreign
Office in an adjoining building appear
safe.
The cabinet met in extraordinary
session today and decided to open for
the shelter of refugees, the Pantheon,
St. Sulpice seminary and other former
church properties which escheated to
the state
The rate at which the Seine is ris-
ing was increased slightly today.
An additional rise of % inches is
expected.
The entire district back of the Quai
De Jayel is inundated and the water
isolated sections far from the Seine
The water has reached the top of
the presidential tribune at the Long
Champs race course. Six square miles
of the Bois De Boulogne are sub
merged
Because of the danger to those with
in. Foreign Minister Pinchon today
ordered the evacuation of the wing
of the foreign office building which
borders on the flooded Rue De Con-
stantine-
Foreign Office Closed.
All of the active working depart
nlents of the Office were closed and the
routine duties were left temporarily in
the hands of Minister Pinchon and his
staff.
The water has invaded the postoffice
building and forced the employees to
flee. 1t also reached the chamber of
deputies, though the members contin-
ued in session A report that the sit
ting of the chamber would be trans
ferred to versailles is for the moment
untrue The chamber has been cut
off from telegraDhic and telephone
communication.
Prefect of Police Lepin announced
this afternoon that it would be pos
sible he thought. to save the 5000
persons who were imprisoned in the
upper stories of their homes at Abort
vile. Boats manned by soldiers are
removing the endangered ones
General Dalsten. military governor
Of Paris, has divided the city into five
sections for military control at the di-
rection of the minister of war. Gen
eral Brun- This was done to regulate
and expedite the campaign of relief
The authorities now believe it viii be
possible to save all the stone bridges.
the only fear being for the iron Pont
Des Arts and the Pont De Solferino.
Binding Snow Storm.
Paris, Jan 26.-The flood situation
int -el1
this morning the raging torrent of the
Seine was 27 feet inches above low
water mark and was rising at the rate
of nearly an inch an hour against an
hourly rise of less than half an inch
yesterday.
AIthongh the River Marne was re-
ported stationary at Fretesous. to the
east of Paris. the huvial navigation
department declares that the volume
of water rushing down from the
Seine above leaves no hope that the
high water mark will be reached be-
fore tomorrow morning. when the
food is expected to reach maxi
mum of 81 feet or height greater
than was reached by the destructive
food of 1902.
At the same time the department
admits confidentially that it is impos-
sible to predict anything with accur-
acy as the whole of France is still in
the grip of an unprecedented storm
Rain. snow and hail are falling every
where. the coasts are storm bound and
ships are fleeing to the harbors for
refuge
A binding snow storm ragged in
Paris today and, coupled with the bit
ter cold, added to the general con-
sternation. suffering and misery Of the
poor and homeless. In the face of a
national disaster, France is giving a
fine exhibition of pluck and solidarity
Political divisions have been buried
and the government and the people
united to solve the problem of relief.