The Cairo bulletin. [volume] (Cairo, Ill.) 1872-1878, 1874-03-13
RAIN by ARTILLERY
DOES ARTILLERY FIRING PRO
DUUE RAIN, OR DOES IT SIM
PLY ATTRACT THE STORM
CENVLps


o. DUUE RAIN, OR DOES IT SIM
PHI ATTRACT THE STORM
CENTERS'
The following petition to the house of
Of the United States, has
been presented through Mr.. Fsrwell Of
Illinois: A
"Your petitioner, two years ago, pre-
sented TO your honorable body a memori
al, settling forth certain fncts going to
show that discharge of artillery, in heavy
batteries, continued for few hours, will
bring rain in large quantities and asking
that nm experiment might be performed
with powder and cannon of the United
States, TO determine If droughts cannot 10
this way be prevented. He now renews
his petition for such experiment, and begs
leave to present somo facts of different
kind from those before stated, which tend
to add to the credibility Of his theory.
Your petitioner therefore, respectful
ly represents that these facts give reason
TO believe that there are, a. all times, vas,
| quantities Of squeous vspor passing over
No from the Pacific ocean that the exist
ence of an extremely cold current above
the vapor-bearing current gives reason to
believe that the condition necessary TO
produce rain In the manner ia which we
are taught by the liuttonisn theory it 10
usually produced, are always present; and
that the occurrence Of heavy rains after
| battles gives reason to believe, not only
that such conditions always exist, but that
the process by which clouds and rain are
formed from tho Invisible vspor, can al
any time, be set In motion.
THE southeast trade wind Of Tho Pa
ciiic. which becomes thus q great vapor-
bearing current over tho United States,
extends from the surface of the ocean 90
tho hight Il is supposed, OF about three
miles. 1t moves over the ocean for about
2 900 miles, and, with slight Interruptions.
1t blows perpetually. The amount Of
vapor which IL takes up is inconceivably
great, for Il is calculated that a, much
water i, evsporated from the ocean 10 one
year ~ would depress its whole surface
eight or ten feet. It's true that much Of
the vapor which rises from the ocean falls
back into 1t again stterward ~ rain, but
the amount which Is carried over the con
tinent 10 immense, and vast quantities of
it, transparent and invisible must pass
over the United States, TO fall after ward
as rain or snow on the the Atlantic ocean,
in Northern Europe, and the Polar re-
gioDs. -..-
"Now, the deductions of Msury il re-
lation 70 winds and currents, made from
thousands of obser vstions, taken in all
paris Of the world, seem 60 be confirmed,
30 far rs the existence of n rain bearing
current over this continent 10 concerned,
by the observations of the signal corps of
the United States army; for il IL found
that nearly all our principal storms come
from tho westward and south west ward
and this, rs Msury shows, will naturally
be the course taken by the air of the |
trade wind, when it becomes An |
atmospheric current in the northern hem
isphere. The observations OF seronauts
also add confirmation to his theory, for
they declare that they have found an east
ward current, which they believe to be
constant.
ain u work of that distinguished inves.
.igstor of natural phenomena, tho late NJ.
+. Maury, on the physical geography Of
the sea, 1t 10 claimed that tho principal
portion OF the aqueous vapor that forms
the rain that falls within the United
States is brought by atmospheric currents
from the Pacific ocean, 1t 10 contended
that the gr I southeast trade-wind of tho
Pacific, which meets the northeast trade.
wind near the equator, after rising there,
flows over that trade.wind 20 the belt Of
cams nesr the Tropic of Cancer where it
ie.enis and become, great southwest
rain-b airing current across our continent.
md tha! above this current is a great po-
lar current flowing in nearly An opposite
direction.
and your petitioner further represents
that, while the observations of the signal
corps show that on an average ms many
Is nine storms traverse our coun.
~ from west TO east IN a single month,
hese storms are yet so unequally dis
ributed .hatsome portions of tho country
uiier at times from terrible droughts,
while others are drenchcd with excessive
airs, and that, il it should be found that
here is in tho effects Of heavy conclusions
power such a. to cause storm-centers to
tsviate from their natural courses, q sys.
lem for distributing the rainfall can be
worked out, which by leading to the pre-
vention Of forest fires, and BY adding 20
our agricultural resources, win be of ines
Unable value to tho country.
EDWARD PoUKRs.'
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