New-York tribune., 1910-01-30

having thirty thousand inhabitants, are
submerged. the water reaching the tops
Of the houses in the lower sectionA
while the food is backing UP into the
very centre of Asnieres.
Figures a. to the number Of persons
affected by the nood in the valley OF the
Seine are pure guesswork. but certainly
forty Thousand have been driven from
their homes 20 the hospitals and other
buildings which have been placed at the
disposal of the refugees
Such dispatches as have reached here
from the provinces indicate general
Improvement in conditions, except In the
lower valley Of the Seine.
Premier BRAND has arranged for the
-four mills and oil reservoirs in the west
srd north TO send -four and oil 20 Paris
by special trains, so that the danger of
bread and of famine is now practically
over
Learning that spectators were plan
ming 10 corner the potato market and
send prices up. the government has
Issued an edict that if this is carried
Qua the SPECTATORS will be sternly prose-
euted.
The foot bridge erected at the Espia-
made des InYalides collapsed tonight,
precipitating scores of persons into the
water, but ali were rescued by soldiers.
The Academy OF Science was holding a
meeting in the flooded institute this
evening, when 8 i5-foot cave-in occurred
In the quay outside.
The theatres present weird sights.
The electricity having failed, the man
ayers Of the houses have resorted to
lamps and candles. Water pouring into
the basement of the Opera Comique to-
night suddenly drowned the electric
dynamo and the opera was sung in al
most complete darkness.
NO STATE OF SIEGE IN CITY.
President Faliiares and Premier BRAND
frsVersed the inundated districts on the
LETT bank OF the river this afternoon IN
motor boat. giving particular attention
&c the region around the Foreign Office,
after Thica they passed around the Eiffci
Tower into the Javel district The Pre-
irsier gave q categorical denial to the re-
Iorts that the government contemplated
proclsining state OF siege in the city
:
hesitation 20 DO this if the necessity had
arisen, but the public had shown com
rlete confidence in the government and
was cooperating in such splendid fasn-
ion that France might well be proud be-
fore the world. General Brun. Minister
of War. and General Dalstein, Military
Governor Of Paris, also made a tour of
the devastated suburbs, their chief OBJ
iect being TO inspect the work of the
soldiers.
The French Red Cross. the Societe
des Danes FRANCHISES and the Societe
des femmes de France are rendering
great assistance 20 the authorities in the
relief of the sufferers The two latter
societies were organized after the war Of
1870 and have large reserves of money
and supplies, which we're collected for
the purpose of meeting the contingency
Of possible war or q national calamity,
and their entire resources are being en-
ployed. Sixty relief stations have been
established In Paris. as well as camps
for the free distribution of soup. food
and clothing in the outskirts OF the in
undated towns and villages along the
river.
The local government authorities srs
displaying great devotion and zeal in the
work OF salvage and rescue. Neverthe-
less, the conditions, especially in the
country districts, are pitiful. The
heuEes Of farmers are submerged TO
'heir reefs. and in many cases the in
hahfants have lost everything, incIud-
ing their livestock.
RIVERS RATE 90 MILES AN HOUR.
II is estimated that the Seine. which
under normal conditions moves through
Paris at the sluggish rate Of less than p
mile an hour, is now carrying thirty
times the ordinary volume at a speed of
twenty miles an hour. During the last
few days thousands of visitors and resi-
dents have left here for London or the
Riviera those going 10 the latter place
making their way around Paris to the
broken southern lines over the strategic
railroad known as the Grand Ceinture.
4 number OF deplorabie incidents have
heen reported Several shopkeeper~ who
attempted 60 charge quadruple prices
have been nCbbed, while q srocervran
who Was driven TO the upper story Of
MS heqse by an angry crowd fired a re-
NoireT. Eounding a woman Rowdies
nave attempted to pillage many of the
houses, and at several OF the towns they
have been driven off by the troops.
lie explanations of the floods given hv
FFeach scientists are of especial interest.
Etienne stsaislas Meupier the eminent
EeolosiEt, considers the phenomenon TO
pc mere Of geological than q. Tneteoro-
legaesl nature. After explaining the az.
ven and reaction Of the water in ths
sgats below the surface, he savs that
the soil Of the entire basin Of the Seine
ana the other big rivers of France had
oeepEas ireperesptibly dlled to the point
o. esrap!ste satilrstion during the pre-
esoing three months Of gentle rains With
ncesFs't temperatures. which retarded
evspoFss,on When the heavy -a;ns
estae last week the ground wa. abse-
iute!y irrperrneabie.. and the water "a,
81 as y from q cement floor.
IL asuHisr's conclusion is ths. .re
reVsr given 10 an area of country r.
take care Of the water, outside of con-
ssseratious as 70 natural soil. fs n,ess-
u,ed b. the evaporation energy for eacr
acre Ss the trees draw the n1oistrr.
from the SOIL permitting evaporation
THIS energy is proportional to the mum.
Der OF leaves. Consequently. reforesta-