Portage sentinel. [volume] (Ravenna, Ohio) 1845-1854, 1854-02-01
WHOLE No. "A A9.



We extract the following very singular plan for
causing and controlling rain from the @HaFmOhial
Man." a little work BY Al. T. Davis We should
be pleased to see some experiments 10 test the
feasibility Of such bold idea. Here is the pIanI
"From the philosophy of electricity and mag
netism, we learn that cold is caused by supera-
bundance of the former, and heat by apreponder-
alton Of the latter in the earth, in water, and IN
the atmosphere. We also learn that electricity
alone can decompose water, leaving its constitu-
ents pure and free from other elements; also, we
learn that there is an insulating medium Of air
the stratum nearest to earthly which the clouds
are suspended until perfectly formed and filed with
vapor, and then caused, by local distnrbanceo Of
this insulation, to fall either as mist, as rain, as
fluid preponderates at the time. Moreover, we
learn that mountains and trees establish perma-
nent communication through the insulator and the
electric currents imprisoned in the grandreservoir
of the upper regions; and SO is produced quite
frequent, but not violent, rains on the adjacent
lands and valleys for several leagues around. s''
Youwll remember, think, the example Of this
law taken from all portions of the earth. Within
the territory of Venzuela are many Illustrations
In Camana, where very moderate mountains rise
gradually behind from the coast, and no high points
to disturb the insulation, with abundant magnetism
in the lower stratum, the thermometer averaging
from 80 to 80 degrees, there you find warm, sun
ny sky, cloudless ten months Of the year; only
two months being diversified by dews, sunshine
and fertilizing rains. While along the southern
part of the Oronoco, the reverse is the case; ten
months of rain, and two comparatively clear and
sunny. OF course, the land is high and covered
with dense forest. And if you find any excep-
tions to this law, the explanation may be had BY
examining what tree, or rocky coast, or angular
point of earth, there is which, at times, forms
temporary communication with the upper currents,
and thus produces the fall of rain. - TEE '1N-"
As Nature, from the operation of these visible
causes, produces rain in every State in America,
SO may Art,which is but Nature manifested through
Man, accomplish the same results. and the fol-
lowing plan is deeply impressed upon my mind as
being at once simple, practicable, and--consider-
ing the extensiveness of the good to be achieved
thereby-quite easily put up, and Inexpensive,
Upon some highly elevated ground-say upon
the brow of considerable hill--construct an
Electric Tower. The higher this tower ascends
above the level of the ocean, the more absolute
will be the determination of its influence upon the
curents Of the upper strata, and the more per-
fectly will it be capable of directing the wind and
other aerial circulations In the top Of this tower
should be constructed two machines of very large
proportions; one, an electric instrument, for the
accumulation and development of this negative
principle from the earth; the other galvanic bat
terry for the purpose of introducing magnetic cur
rents and for decomposing water. This structure,
with its electro magnetic conveniences, will an!
swer to produce and control rain in an uneven
country, say like the State Of Connecticuts fora
circle or district one hundred miles in diameter.
But on desert it would be influential upon cir
Gle of not more than two hundred miles. In fact,
when situated upon plain surface, where water
is scarce and heat is abundant most of the year,as
in Arabia and in some parts of Africa, the tower
should not be expected to act permanently upon
more than thirty miles of air in every direction
from it. '' -et os
This circle should be connected with the Gen.
trail power by means of wire conductors, on a plan
precisely analogous to the poles and conductors
of the magnetic Telegraph Of course, it is un-
necessary to describe the methods of constructing
an electrical apparatus; for l ihean nothing diff
ferent from what is already known to scientific
electricians. The dimensions of the cylindrical
glass or revolving portion of the instrument, let
me remark, should not be less than Sixteen feetin
diameter, and thick enough every way to resist all
centrifugal tendencies, when making seventy-fve
revolutions minute. This cylinder should be
moved by steam engine Of the required power;
and the heat for the boiler may be obtained by a
gavanic decomposition of water. twill be borne
in mind that electricity is negative principle
is cold; and, while it acts upon aerial vapor to
condense its atoms into rain, FROST snow, &C., it,
at the same moment, gives rise to certain currents
of wind SO called, which have much to do in all
cases in determining what part of the globe the
condensed vapor shall descend" s54
S1ilOr'S Letter.