Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1889-09-14

coveries and be able to suggest q plan.
Perhaps the reservoir system may be
deemed sufficiently promising; perhaps
something else may be found necessary.
The present season has demonstrated
that a better distribution OF the atmos-
pheric moisture might prove more profit
able to the agricultural interests. In Kan
sas, Nebraska, Illinois and the Atlantic
states there has been an abundance OF
rainfall. In some portions OF these states
the excess has been notable. Many crops
have been damaged by too much rain, and
farm work generally has been retarded. In
the Dakotas, and in Washington and Ore
gon, as we'll lin various other sections OF
the trans-M Missouri region, there has been a
marked deficiency in the rainfall. 1t has
been so dry in the Dakotas that the wheat
crop is only about half what it ought to
bs. Other crops also have been seriously
injured by the drouth. In some parts of
Washington the dry weather has been ex-
ceptional. and agriculture has suffered. No
doubt there has been an excess OF rainfall
in the "wet" regions sufficient to have sup
piled the "dry" states and territories with
all the moisture they needed. By an equali.
cation of this sort, were such a thing pos
rejoiced in the universal abundance OF their
harvest.
EFFECTS OF IRRIGATION.
The advocates of extensive irrigation
argue that it will cause better distribu-
ton OF the rainfall. They say that when
water is spread out over the millions of
acres now dry and devoid of vegetation,
there will be moisture in the air, clouds
will gather overhead and the gentle rains
will fall. Where the summer sun o beats
down upon a barren plain white and hot
with Dust OF alkali, grass will grow, fields
of waving grain will add their verdure to
the beauty OF the landscape, tall trees will
nod and bend in the balmy breezes, Inc
flowers of a hundred bues will fill the air
with their fragrance. In the very midst of
what is now a dry region will be established
a constant supply OF moisture. An at
mospheric equilibrium will result, drouths
as well as severe storms will be prt vented,
and the dreaded cyclone will become an
impossibility. That is the picture drawn
by the advocates OF irrigation and a more
equal distribution OF moisture. How best
to accomplish these ends and to secure the
oeoirou rosuiCs IL ono suDleeo VI conRres-
sional inquiry.
But while the senate committee is ex-
ploring the "Great American Desert" a
peripatetic philosopher writes to the sec.
rotary OF the interior upon the subject in
question. He has q plan for securing rail-.
fall at any time at any point, and he says
he has applied for a patent. He signs him
self Michael Cahill, M. D., a citizen OF the
United States" Three years ago he wrote
from New York City to Secretary Lamar
as follows:
II have the honor to state thai I am
convinced that the periodic overflow OF the
rivers and the destruction of life and prop.
erty therefrom may be averted by equaliz.
accomplished by tapping the zone of maxi
mum moisture, or even the snow line, with
having cable toHs OF wire to
act as electric conductors. Each conductor
is in effect q mountain peak elevated to
any altitude required, but SO much more
powerful, as it is a better conductor than
rock, earth and trees"
A Owe SCHEME.
He stated to Secretary Lamar that he
was prepared to make further explanation;
but it seems the secretary never became
interested, and an explanation was not
requested. DR.. Cahill waited patiently IN.
til a new administration came into power, /
and then he revived the subject. Recently
he addressed q letter to Secretary Noble,
this time writing from San Francisco. In
this second letter DR.. Cahill goes into par !
tlculars, which are somewhat abstruse and |
with mathematical formulas, evil |
IDENTIFY intended as conclusive ~demonstra.
ton OF the great truth he is trying to |
II have the honor to inform you" he |
again writes, that, after years OF study |
and reflection, I am convinced that cloud |
bursts, cyclones, water-spouts, river over
lows. and the loss of life and property
therefrom, may be averted at an insignif.
can't expense; the deserts may be opened.
and in time the polar regions, to a great
extent, will disappear; climates may be
changed, and to this extent, by equalizing
bhe pressure on the planet, the destruction
Of it's crust may be arrested"
Having submitted this startling PROPOSE
DR.. Cahill proceeds to say that '.the
cause OF all the calamities and of the mis-.
poverty and vice now on the earth re-
'ults from the loss OF Adams mind, and to
he fact that the pulpit and legislative
assembly ignore the divine law and testi.
nony given by God through sacrifice as a
Then he details some of the resulting If.
egularities of nature. Meteors fall into I
he sun increasing it's volume and heat: ice
'ccumulates around the poles of the earth, ,
lnpalances it on it's axis, causing a gyra- .
DRY motion and lengtheDing the year l
bout one-sixteenth part on about six :
avs; the solar heat is gradually increasing c
nd larger clouds are produced by evapo. q
alton. He fears the motions OF the
are becoming slower, and in time I
ne meteors that o fall into the sun
lay be attracted to the earth, crush it's q
rust and cause an explosion. He makes =
ne rather novel suggestion that earth y
uakes, volcanic eruptions and the tidal b
AYES are caused by the action OF the ice in b
ne polar regions. /.
SOME PH1LosoPBle RANKINGS. fl
Just how these phenomena result from d
lie action OF polar ice is not clearly ex. c
aimed; but DR.. Cahill goes on to explain b
lat the formation of natural gas and pe. h
'oleum is traceable to the same cause. Tn a
vague way, however, he states that cas- Il
nsiDle vapors amounting to about thirty. .
70 mississippi rivers is yearly taken from !"
le territory Of the United States. living he.
Veen 30e and 6Oo latitude, and tbsnco
.ansported to the polar regions by elec.
lc and atmospheric currents and bile up
:ound the north pole, the remedy is to It
lthdraW rain and rivers of Waterfront the al
by art, and settle Gods peo.
9 on his land. This" he says, ,.shouid B
followed by q general conformation to &
. divine law and testimony, ignoring pul.
. inc parliament eloquence." 10
Ihen, resuming his philosophic DISGUST. re
On, DR.. Cahillcontinues: Vapor of wateris
SECULAR and positively electrified, and it in
the earth being negative. At equal le
mperature and pressure the specific
avlty OF yapor Of waters and atmospheric he
- as ? TO .. Therefore the vapor must s.
cend until restricted by the cold ahova =
Q Zone OF maximum moisture. Here i 4
lere clouds are formed and float. A - n
enc the solar ray becomes more intense
tnat the v~esicles, receiving the increasaJ
~, rupture and explode. while the vas;. ~