Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1888-01-26
Condensino Rain.

Ihe remarkable powers and adapta-
bility of the electric current to the use
of society has been further demon
strated by an invention which has at
least the charm of novelty. This is
nothing more nor less than a patent
to open the windows of heaven at the
will of man, and Michael Cahill, III.
D., of this city, claims the honor of
the invention.
Tie doctor returned to town 4 few
days ago from Washington. where he
went to secure a patent and bring be-
fore the notice of the government his
strange continuance. He was seen
porter, to whom he briefly explained
the proposal
Il expect to see the sage-brush des-
erts of Nebraska and Nevada under
cultivation and affording pasturage
for thousands of cattle in a few wears. !"
began the doctor. Should the gov
eminent adopt my patent, by its use
there need not be- an acre of waste
land on the whole continent"
BY what extraordinary means do
you intend to tap the clouds and inter-
fere with the laws of nature?" queried
the. reporter.
Simply by a condenser or captive
balloon and an electric cable placed
wherever the rain is required. | have
long believed that rain could be pro-
duced by artificial means, and l have
worked at this hobby of mine for sew
eral years-eyer since left college, in
fact. You see, first of all, that vapor
as it ascends receives heat from the
solar rays, which also impels it up
ward until restricted by the cold. The
vesicles, or dewdrops, being crowded
together, become electrified and float
on the air at an altitude of from three
to five thousand feet, and all that is
required then to produce rain is to in
tercept these vesicles by artificial
means. What / have invented is a
condenser of peculiar shape and con-
struction, and connected with the
earth by an electric cable. Whenever
the vesicles come into contact with
condenser or current they are broken
up and the water forced to the ground
with great rapidity. The rain will be
produced by the same law as causes
condensation on windoW-pane. The
surface of the glass is covered with
microscopic points, and on becoming
chilled the layer of air next it falls. al
lowing the vapor to flow to the points
and from thence to the ground"
You will require a gigantic bal
loon for such purpose" was sug-
gested.
go no. A condenser of about two
hundred feet in diameter will bring
down something like twenty-five mil
lion gallons a day, or as much as would
irrigate almost half of this State. The
volume of water can be devised or
formed into rivers, whichever may be
desired"
"What will be the cost of erecting
and fitting up one of these condensers. !"
1.-The condenser will be of especially
prepared iron, and / have received an
estimate from a well-known manu-
facturer, who placed the cost at So, 800;
another $500 would easily fit it up"
"What are the opinions of experts on
the matter, doctor?"
"Well, when | brought my plan be-
fore them at first they were mostly
skeptical, but [ have got great many
of them round since. While in Wash
lngtOn submitted 1t to the meteOrO-
logical department, where | am we'll
known, and to the heads of the geo.
detic survey. and both believed it to be
practicable; indeed, the former body
sent an Endorsement to the secretary
of the interior to have its efficacy test
ed. [ expect it will be some months
yet, however, before they will do any
thing at headquarters, added the doc
tor.
Since his return the inventor has had
several interviews with Lieut.. j. E.
Mansfield, the head of the local signal
service. The doctor is also in COM
munication with a number of local
capitalists with view to the formation
of a company for the purchase of the
patent rights here and abroad.
francisco Chronicle