Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1891-07-31
IOWA CO. DEMOCRAT.
MINERAL POINT, WIS.
NOVEL, Y PERM ENI.

NOVEL. y PEHiM bN L.
One of the most interesting experiments
of the present time and one whose success
would prove of incaculable benefit to man
kind is that now on the eve of trial under
the auspices Of the federal government
Artificial rain production is not new
theory, but it is now to be given practl'
cal test under the formal sanction OF the
greatest nation on earth. Several years
ago an Illinois civil engineer named Ed
ward Powers collected statistics showing
that nearly all Of the great battles OF his'
tory were followed by transforms. Of pc
culiar interest, said Mr.. Powers IN
his subsequent lectures on this
theme, were the various engage
ments fought in Mexico by Gems.
Scott and Taylor since they took place In
arid regions ut u season when ram was
unaccuetomed to fall. According to Gen,
Il. G. Duryenforth, Of Washington, who
will conduct the forthcoming experiments,
the theories Of Mr. Powers laid deep hold
upon the intellect Of Charles b. farweIl,
who aiterward became senator OF the
United States. Mr.. FarweIl, when he
was not looking after The Offices, seems TO
have been occupied very considerably with
the idea of making the heavens sweat.
Almost his last service in the senate was
TO secure government appropriation OF
&9, coo for testing the theory that had 30
strongly impressed his statesmanike
mind.
Gen. Duyenforth is quite sanRulne that
he will be able TO accomplish something
more than the mere bur ming Of explosives,
and Secretary Rusk, who ~ the head OF
the meteorological bureau, il particularly
interested in the result Of the aer2l bonn
bardment il not without hope Of making
an achievement that will cause his name
to go reverberating down the CORR
dor of time. Gen, Duyrenforth
says that the idea of explosions above the
carth's surface, as by means Of balloons
charged with oxygen and hydrogen has
some justification in that moistGr" will
naturally bo above the earth's surface,
FIRST because the oxy.hydrogen mixture,
which forms water, il specifically lighter
than the mixture of oxygen and nitrogen
which forms air; and secondly because
moisture in n finely divided con
dition specifically lighter Than
mir. When particles of moisture are
concentration and aRglomorated to such
an extent that they no longer are lighter
than mir then precipitation ensuos and
rain falls The object of the conclusions
il TO form vortex in the air, causing
particles to rush together, and also to
shake The PARTICLES together. Speaking in
general terms it is thought that prcciplta-
tion over n largo atmospheric area can be
produced provided the atmosphere can be
sufficiently aRitatod and given sufficient
motion,
The plan of campaign and tho apparatus
TO be used form nm interesting chapter
Gen. Duyrenlorth will makothe conditions
M much like those of n battle rs possible
and he will exercise, great care t. mako
necessary meteorological observations be-
fore the heavenly hurrah begins. Con,
corning the range of his operations he
says;
Going to some accessible point where
there il plenty of room, will cndcavor
to have front of from two to three miles
in extent ana having several lines of lire
ut depth of from half a mile to mule
AT intervals corresponding with what
would he the positions of artillery, mass.
ed or of inrenched troops, will nave the
balloons, the most expensive element IN
the outfit. AT proper distance from these
front and rear, propose TO send up the
kites, carrying IN suitable recepideles
such as rubber, oiled silk, or balloon
fabric bugs, various explosives, and Ngnm
in front and rear and laterally | propose
to have vessels in the nature of mortms, Tor
firing other explosives. Tie ysssels may
be bell shaped and buried in the ground
with their mouths out whereby the earth
will supply requisite lateral resistance and
obyiate tho necessity of hopping. pro.
pose to keep up the row tor several days
These balloons are nearly u hondrod in
number aud have diametors hanging from
ten to twenty feet Filled with mixture
of oxygen and nitrogen, the force of their
conclusion will be terrific, Ii celestial
earthquake does not ensue and rrecipitate
upon the earth all The sky contains, Rusk,
Duryenforth, etaI,will be sorcly disoppoint-
ed and have TO grin and bear the good.
natured gibes that an amused people will
fire Mt them.
The statoscope
Tho stntosponn Ia n rayistcrinv mir hnr-