The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-08-24
~IN-MAKING A FAILURE.

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titic American in a panlcky state oil
mind regarding the experiments in pro-
ducing rainfall. He asks: "If they are
successful, is there not great danger in
store for us, as every person having the
means could use these appliances and
rob the atmosphere of its moisture9
And what a wet time we would have!
Those owning small water power would
want rain nearly all the time to drive
their increased machinery, while the
tillers of the soil would want dry wealth
er to develop their crops; but what is
more serious to think of, what effect
would the heat of the sun have on
the earth if we drew all the moisture
from the heavens or clouds above u.s."
This suggests a new form of worry
for the croakers and pessimists who
aff1ict mankind, but some of them
may be cheered up by the
ment from Texas that the rain-making
experiment there is pretty nearly a
failure. 1.-The Dyrenforth party" says a
dispatch from Midland, 'have made
quite d number of %unimportant expert
ments, but as yet nothing that would
show anything to prove the practicable
ty of the idea. The indications are that
the means employed are not adequate to
the results desired; that either the ap-
pliances are not what is needed or that
the experiments are inefficient. Scien-
tific men from distant points and citl-
zsns of the surrounding country to the
number of over 100 have been here sew
eral days awaiting demonstrations which
have never come, and have now mostly
returned to their homes in disgust. No
n is willing to denounce the theory as
absurd or the experiment an absolute
failure, but one is so hopeful as to ex-
poet any great results from the present
expedition. On several occasions low
hanging clouds, by the explosion Of
rendrock powder, were caused to give
out small showers Of rain Of a very few
moments duration, but other than this
nothing was observed. The experiment.
ers claimed that a general and continu-
GUS bombardment Of the heavens was to
aIo ULlu lulI Vi q SoISiat l1dGulo
and abundant quantity was to follow.
10 bring about this result there are six
men under the management of Gen. Dy-
renforth, a force entirely inadequate to
prosecute such labors. They have on
several attempts failed to initiate their
balloons, and made no kite d%emonstra-
tions. They have only discharged the
explosive powder, and in the smoke it is
feared that the theory of the artificial
production of rain has gone glimmering.
Whether the party proposes abandon
ing tho project or what the future oper-
ations will be is not known. People
here have lost all interest and care for
it,"
Scientific men in the National mu-
scum and Smithsonian Institution look
upon the experiments to produce rain
in this manner with incredulity. They
say that among many popular fallacies
OF the present day is the common belief
that rains follow earthquakes, great bat
ties and volcanic eruptions. The records
OF the signal service for many years past
and the records kept by individuals and
almanac makers show that after great
battles there have been no unusual
amounts of rain following. The records
have been searched by the National mu-
scum scientists as far back as June.
1915, when the great battle of Waterloo
was fought. 1t is true that the battle
OF Waterloo was fought in the rain a
part OF the time, but the rain COM
menced before and ceased on the last
day Of the battle. For a period Of six
weeks Immediately succeeding the bat
tie the entire section was absolutely
without a drop of moisture from the
skies except occasional light dews at
night. The weather records have been
searched covering the dates of the great
civil war and in almost all instances
these battles have been succeeded by
dry weather, rainy weather being the
exception rather thar the rule.
Leave the skies and stick to the earth,
Dig artesian wells, build canals and irri-
gate!
AN enterprising firm of emigration
oropfc in a. Dn,1 ,oulz 1