The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1891-07-22


with Dynamite Guns and Balloons.
WASHINGTON, July l4.-Some time
within the next few days tn, re is going
to be a noise out in Western Kansas.
Uncle Sans rain-makers are bound
thither with provision O. explosives
sufi:ient TO stock fair sized volcano in
active operation. They take with them
tbreesco.e balloons, each ten feet in di-
ameter when expanded; likewise about
me huadred kites nve feet high, a freight
car full Of wooden mortars to fire bombs
from, and many thousands OF pounds Of
dynamite. guupowder, nitroglycerine
and other powerful agents for agitating
rature with spasms. If there is not
second deluge in the region mentioned
within fortnight it will not be for lack
Of effort on the part Of Gen. Dyreaf)rth
and the department of agriculture.
Seven thousand dollars vet remains of
the $4,000 appropriated by Congress for
this purpose, and so there is no need to
economize on the fireworks for the pre-
lIminary experiment. Because 1t is a
matter of history that storms have often
followed heavy cannonading in warfare,
it has been thought desirable to attack
the sky for this meteorological purpose
with regular line Of battle. A cou-
venielt and excessively ard PLAIN will
be selected for operations. and the wood
en- mortars will be planted across it in
drills. as it were, for distance Of about
two miles. They will be loaded with
dynamite, rackarock and other materials
caculated to agitate the atmosphere as
much as possible, while at suitable in
tervals Of space the balloons will be ar
ranged for ascension. simultaneously
digit of kites will be lat loose in the air.
The thrce-score balloons will in them
selves represent an extraordinary scien-
titic novelty. They are ali completed,
now, and each cne is calculated to hold
about five hundred and twenty five cubic
!eet Of gas-one-third oxygen and two
thirds hydrogen. The oxygen is put in
first. and then the hydrogen. Each bal
loon upon being inflated ascends under
control Of a double wire, which serves
instead Of a rope to hold it BY. When
it reaches the desired height tie button
of an electric instrument on the ground
is touched, a spark ignites fuse in the
balloon, and the oxygen and hydrogen
suddenly combine with a terrific eXplo-
sion. Experiments made within the
last few days in this city show that suck
an oxyhydrogen balloon thus ignited
produces a really tremendous detona-
ton, the cloth Or paper vessel itself ap-
pearing for an instant and by daylight
like ball Of fire. Few things can be
imagined more curious than this pheno-
menon, which signifies that the two gas
es, at the touch Of fire, have united in
the shape ola drop or two of water,
which fluid consists OF two parts Of ny
drogen and one ofoxygen.
But, as has been said, the balloons
will be supplemented by greatkites, each
Of which will be held by a doubled wire
instead of string. Their tails will car
ry dynamite and other explosives. which
will be set OF in the same way by the
electric spark. Meantime, while the
oxyhydrogen bags explode and the kite
tails go bang, the buried mortars will
vomit forth rackarock to the heavens all
along the two-m'le line, For at least
two, and possibly three, days the racket
will be kept up. Then the expedition
will hoist its umbrellas and calmly await
the downpour, consoled for the incon-
venience by the acclamations Of the ag-
ricultural population.
1t must not be supposed, however,
that this lombard nent of the heavens
will be conducted without scientific meth
cd. Before it is begun the observers of
the expedition will ascend in a suitable
balloon, and find out by the way the hV-
groneter works at what level the explo.
sives may be most advatageously set off.
If they discover the greatest amount OF
moisture at an elevation Of one thousand
five hundred feet, that is the stratum Of
air IN which they want to work. The
theory Of the matter no one pretends to
understand very thoroughly, but 1t iss
imagined that the artificial combustiica-
ton, as scientific men would say, makes
a sort of vortex or hole in the air, into
which the heavier moist particles rush,
so as to occasion condensation and pre-
cipitatlon Of rain. 1t is surm:sed also
that the small parti lies Of water made
by the explosion OF the combining oNy-
gen and hydrogen form sort OF nucleus
tor other particles 10 gather about.
Another important idea is that the wat
cry particles in the atmosphere, being
heavier than the rest Of the air, are shaS-
en- out of 1t By concussion and fall upon
the earth.
If the efficacy Of explosives for pro-
duciug rain is proved. it is supposed the
farmers will make It their business to
establish detcna:ing plants. employing
toI the purpose balloons, kites, mortar
bombs, Or what not. The balloons to
he used in the approaching Government
trials cost about s22 apiece, bcs the ex-
pense entailed for score or so OF these
would be of no consequence to district
for which sinele good shower might
signify $4,000 or even 100000 Of
value.
Crops Devastated by GrasshopDers.
BRUSH, Col, July l5.-Ten miles
south o! here grasshoppers are devasta-
ting all plant lite which lies IN their
course. Their operations extend over
scope Of country twelve miles in width.
They are moving north and bid fair to
lay waste all crops which they come
across. The ground is completely COW
cred and so numerous IN parts IS to be
an inch deep. Several upland farmers
have lost their entire crops. Many of
these farmers have suffered for the last
four years from drouth, and it is feared
great distress will be caused by his new
They All Do It.
GREESwooD, $. c., July 1l.-trom
an authentic source your correspond
ent has aScertained that the following