Pioche daily record. [volume] (Pioche, Nev.) 1872-1876, 1874-01-30
WATER! WATER,

Ing Va a
forests, in their vast munifcence-every-
thing that lives and moves on earth-in
water finds an element Of life. Without
it, all must wither, droop and die
In few portions Of the United States is
the scarcity of water more keenly felt
than in the Sagebrush State. Thousands
of square miles now worthless for the
purposes of the husbandman, could be
made to bring forth grain, fruits, veget-
ahles and flowers in the greatest profu-
sion if the land could only be watered.
Looking out from the front of the
RECORD Office, the eye takes in vast
body OF valley land, from fifteen to
twenty miles wide and probably hun
bred miles long, which could be made
the happy homes of many families could
it be properly supplied with water; but,
in the absence of that element of life,
it is destined to remain idle and unculti-
waited. The water question, then, is not
only of national and State importance,
but is highly interesting local problem.
In its national aspect it claimed the at
tention of President Grant in his late
annual message to Congress, and during
a previous session Congressman Kendall
introduced a bill to encourage artesian
well boring. We see, also, that Profess
sor Edward Powers, of Chicago, is en-
gagged in endeavoring to demonstrate the
practicability Of controlling and distrib-
uting rainfall by means of conclusions
produced by the firing Of artillery. Mr..
Powers theory is deduced from an ex-
animation of one hundred and thirty
battles that were succeeded by copious
rains. He claims that about sixty per
cent. of all battles or bombardments OF
importance are followed by rain within
the first twenty-four hours from the COM
mencement of heavy firing. About 80 per
cent. of such battles are followed by
rain within the first forty-eight hours
after the commencement Of the heavy
firing. All great battles in which much
artillery was used were followed by rain
$50 far as definite information can be
obtained). The average length of time
between the commencement of the heavy
firing and the beginning of the rain is
twenty-six and half hours. Rain fol-
lowing great battles, in which much ar
tillery is used. is always very heavy. En-
gagements other than great battles, in
which much artillery is used, are also
generally followed by heavy rain, but
musketry firing does not bring much
rain. Rains follow battles not only in
the Spring and Summer, but also in Au-
tumn and Winter; not only in this coun.
try and Europe, but in the dry seasons
in Mexico. Heavy rains also follow great
battles fought in time of drought. TIL,
battles which are known to have beef
followed by heavy rains are those of FRS
Bull Run, Fair Oaks, Pittsburg Landing
tor Shiloh), Malvern Hill, Gettysburg
Second Bull Run, Stone River, Fredricks
burg, Chancellorville, Spottsylvani
Court House, Cold Harbor, Nashville
During the second day of the battle o
Buena Vista, Mexico, there were tw,
violent showers, though this was in thu
dry season, and it had not rained befor'
and did not rain after for several months
Would it not be a metamorphoss 70
which the world might be thankful
says the New York Herald, if cannon
could become implements of agricultur
instead of remaining destroyers of life
And if the shooters of Phoebe, instead @
blazing away at each other, would fir
their heavy artillery in the valley below
and the San Francisco Chronicle woul
discharge its batteries to the north an
west OF town instead of seeking to Dc
molish the Raymond & Ely mine, thei
efforts might result in a public benef