Ottumwa weekly courier. (Ottumwa, Wapello County, Iowa) 1872-1899, 1875-04-07
a GREAT INVENTION.
ON the Danbury News.


Mr.. johnson, Pittsburg puml
manufacturer, has invented q machin
! for increasing the rainfall.
1t Is well known tha. tho belt OF al
which surrounds the globe contain
an immense quantity OF water in .h,
form of invisible vapor. 1t is onl,
when currents OF cold and hot air ar,
formed that clouds are seen. PeOpl,
often wonder why this water does no
fall on the earth one day a. well Is an
other. Science explains that certain
temperatures and electrical condition.
are necessary for . rainstorm. Nasu
raj heat is only produced by the sum-
rays. But Mr.. johnson discovered
that certain chemical liquids sprayed
into the air produced intense heat, tht
same 90 when some kinds of acid srt
put in water.
The first experiment was to send ur
. balloon from one of his factories, with
. small rubber tube attached, the low
est end connected with 1 power.
full force.pump. At an altitude Of q
mile the balloon remained stationary
Then he started his engine, and the
liquid began to ascend the pipe. The
day was cold and not q cloud was "a
be seen, but within fifteen minutes q
heavy mist gathered around tho bal.
loon, and soon it was entirely hidden
The engine pumped ont more, and
stronger chemicals were thrown into
the reservoir, white clouds Of frightfnl
blackness commenced to roll. Pres.
emily lightning was seen and thunder
heard, although It was in the dead OF
winter and the ground covered with
snow.
BY this time Mr.. johnson was halt
beside himself. The marvellous success
Of the experiment was more than he
had expected. To oblige . professor,
pumping was suspended for while.
Slowly the sky cleared, the thunder
ceased, and the balloon once more be-
came visible. The steam was turned
on and more chemicals added to the
liquid in tho tank. A tremendous
mass OF darkness again shrouded the
balloon and heavy discharges OF
electricity lent grsnduer to the scene.
Scarcely had 20 minutes elapsed be-
fore IL began to hail. A shaft Of light
ming demolished nelghboring chim-
ney. Other chemicals were added, and
the hail changed to rain. Such Q
storm had never been heard OF before,
and whom the crowd, which had gath
cred with their umbrellas, learned the
cause Of II, their enthusiasm Was un-
bounded.
It was found that by changing the
proportions Of the mixtures in the
tank, the character Of the storm could
be varied. Fifteen pounds Of white
chalky powder caused the lightning to
cease, while the thunder crashed ter.
ribly. Ten pounds Of dark liquid 81
fenced the thunder, but the entire
heavens seemed on fire. The sight
was bewiidering. Then twenty
pounds Of each were thrown II, and
Immediately there was . continuous
succession Of binding flashes and nm.
interrupted discharges. The commo-
ton Of the elements was appalling.-
The electricity had begun to effect the
higher strata ofair. A wind-storm
was rising, and dark volumes Of clouds
moved with frightful rapidity. The
lightning increased. Rain fell In tor
rents, and there was prospect for %.
rious disaster, when the pipe snapped.
Light speedily broke through the
gloom. and In short time the sky ap.
peared IN midday splendor. Some
capitalists who were present formed
Q compsny on the spot, TO manufacture
the machine on . large scale.
Mr.. johnson says that the arid plains
can be watered for Q few cents An acre.
He 10 certain that be can soak . strip
Of country ten miles square with one
machine, and he thinks that If heavy
storm were once started In tho heav.
ems II. would continue of itself, and
spread over . wide territory, which
was not the case with the first expert.
ment, - It was not sufficiently pro-
longed. as
On . recent occasion the sky did not
clear nor lnS resu ee~.e for four houre
after the pump stopped working
Physicians and other scientific meu
who have studied this subject, think
mslarious regions may be purified by
consuming the vapors with electricity
but, with proper care not Q drop OF
rain need fall.
Agents are to visit Arizona, Colora.
do and New Mexico, to make expert
ments in those rainless attitudes II
successful, machines will be sent to
Egypt and Arabia for the use of trav.
elers in the Great Desert.