The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1891-10-31
RAIN MAKING PROBLEMS.

NeWcOnlO III their ncaI, nave uec!ueu
that 1t is impossible to produce rain
except in localities where rain is due,
Mr.. Frank Melbourne has shown,
what it is customary for some mex
plicable reasou to call, the courage
OF his coIvictious,- BY agreeing to
contract with the Kansas farmers for
the production of rain on their land
at the price of ten cents an acre.
The proposal covers forty counties Of
the state and is based on the ..ro cure
no pay principle, Mr.. Melbourne
getting nothing if he fails to produce
the water as per programme. No
man certainly could give a stronger
guaranty of his faith in his own
ability TO do what he promises. 1t is
earnestly TO be hoped that Mr.. Mel
Bourne will be given his opportunity
and his contract. The country at
large. TO say nothing of the world in
general, wants very much TO know
just what there is in the rainproduc-
ing theory, partly for the qualification
OF a natural curiosity and partly that
it may do justice. il necessary, TO
Secretary ltusk who has been SO
sharply criticised for his champion
ship of the doctrine. Incidentally.
also, the world wants to know
whether rain can really be had when
wanted either to keep the unaccert-
able mothcr-in-law from dropping in
or te water the parched fields and
make the desert blossom like the
morning-glory. Chiefly. however. i
the world anxious for the speedy
settlement of the vexatious questions |
which are sure to arise rs o as the |
making of rain is undertaken on any
large scale.
Foremost among these questions is
that of the right OF ANYBODY Ia
moisten and thereby damage the
ground and crops Of another against
his will. 1t was forcsecn long ago
ages before there was any nation that
rain could be induced-that it would
be al extremely difficult task TO secure
n consensus of opinion a S to the exact
time when rain would be acceptable.
The humorous literature of half n
century since contained a dozen
stories, at least. the point of which
was that no two men could be found
ready al any time in a given ~neighbor-
hood for a smart shower of drcnch-
ing rain. One of these. which had
quite a run in its day. was TO the
effect that the village pastor achiev-
ed a good reputation for power in
PRAYER by declining to ask for rain
until the entire congregation had
agreed that il was needed. OF course
the agreement was not reached until
the drought had become ~iniolcrablc:
and as the rain was ttien due and
past due. the good pastor felt qaitc
safe in putting up 1 petition for it
which was-oT seemed to be-pro!npt-
" answered. Mr.. Melbourne does
not propose. OF ours To wait for
unanimous consent. If he did he
could fr!s!l his contrac: with ease.
What he proposes is to furnish rain
at stated intervals to the order OF tha
County Commissioners: ana the qucs-
ton which this will raise is is IL the
OF those who are not ready for
rain to an action ;or damages.
The risk in this direction MAJ be
lcssened by the early PRONUNCIATION OF
the rain programme for no jury
would give n but a nominal verdicr
10 the sufferer from q shower of
he had dar notice. Yet there
would undoubtedly be cases where
the sufferer would have a good claim:
and il is very desirable that the
courts should be turned into the new
field at once SO that their opinion can
DE had as to the limitations of n mans
to immunity from rain produced
for the benefit of others.
An interesting branch OF this ques-
ton will have to do with the rights
of persons dwelling outside the sphere
of Mr.. Mclbourne's contract. Within
that sphere the people may, perhaps. {
be regarded as morally. if not legally a.,
bound by the agreement made in their ,
behalf. But in the surrounding coun-
ties or over the state border there
be no such presumption. Unless
Mr.. Melbourne has soinc means Of
lis manipulation of the atmosphere
his rainfall will lap owe the area
covered by his contract and delugc '
people who are not prepared for it !
md who are under no obligation
submit to the infiiction. In such :
asses there would unquestionably be I
/ good claim for damages; and a single ,
'uit after a very heavy shower might \
weep away the entire proceeds of
he contract, even if the contractor
we're allowed to Offset the benefits
Conferred oil people not included in a
he list of those taxed for the pro- L
of rain. Il
Another exceedingly interesting
question which is SURF to come up as
Don as the rain factory is started is Y
IS &c Mr.. Melbournc's right to divert L
he natural rainfall from IFS course Z
or the benefit Of himself and those NJ
rho employ him. 1t will be awkward d
or him when he has brought down d,
=, hi f,Nr,x- Kansas %,nuutinS - hand "