Daily tobacco leaf-chronicle. (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1890-1895, 1891-08-25
ARTIFICIAL RAIN.
How the Government "Sky
StOrmers" Experiment.
Description of the Manner of Effect
ing the Explosions.
Success Attending the Bonn
Success Attending the Bonn
bardment of the Air.


The Three Theories Recognized and
Acted Upon by the Experimenters De-
scribed without the Use Of Technical
Terms.
MIDLAND, Tex, Aug. 25.-During the
past ten days the cowboys of Texas have
been treated to display of fireworks
such as has seldom, if ever, been wit
messed in the Lone Star state.
All the time the government 'sky
stormers" have been at 1t, and the air
and earth have trembled under the
tremendous cannonading.
Sounds Like Thunder.
The explosion of a balloon of 1000
cubic feet capacity charged with oxy-
hydrogen gas produced a report and con-
cussion almost beyond the conception of
a person who has never been near heavy
artillery in action. The report resembles
a very close concentrated clap OF thun-
der, and though the balloon is at an alti
tude of l 300 or 1900 feet above the
earth when exploded, the conclusion jars
the ground for some distance, and the
vibration frequently continues for sew
6THl b0COuuS Wull6 Cu6 SCuOSb IO1 away
wild Animals Scared.
No wonder that when assailed with
such terrific onslaught the antelope and
coyotes flee in utter terror, and the chat
tering prarie dogs dodge into their holes.
Repeated Showers and Two Storms.
AS has already been reported the gov
ernment rainfall expedition, under the
charge of General R. G.. Dyrenforth,
reached Midland on the 9th of August
and has maintained continuous
"skirmish" ever since, with more vigor-
Gus actions at intervals. During these
operations there have been repeated
showers and two storms in which large
quantities of rain fell.
The First Experiment.
The first experiment was performed on
Aug. 10 and was followed by heavy
rain, which broke drouth of long dura-
ton.
The operation consisted of firing a
number Of bombs loaded with high ex-
plosive, which is prepared on the spot
by the experimenters. The bombs were
placed on high ground and exploded by
means of electricity.
The Bomdardment Kept Up.
In the succeeding days large quanti-
ties of dynamite, "rackarock," blasting
powder and oxy-hydrogen gas were ex-
ploded, partly on the ground and partly
at heights varying from a few feet to a
mile and a half, the explosives being
hung from. mesquite brush and poles,
suspended from large kites, contained
in balloons and exploded by means of
or with time fuses and dyna-
mite caps.
Effects Carefully Watched.
The effects of the explosion upon the
meteorological conditions are carefully
watched by Professor George E. Curtis,
of the Smithsonian institute, with set
of instruments brought from the instru-
ment room of the weather bureau at
Washington. Professor Curtis observa-
tions show the air to be exceedingly dry,
the dew point varying from so degrees
to SO degrees Fahrenheit. The signif-
canoe of this fact can be better under
stood If compared with the figures of
some other "arid" region. AT Ell Paso,
for example, the weather bureau observ-
ations show that the dew point did not
fall lower than go degrees, and was fire.
uuently as high as 70 degrees last week.
It seems from these and other observa-
tions that the Llano Estacado or "Staked
plains" of Texas, upon which Midland is
is probably the post difficult
locality in which to produce artificial
rainfall that could be found inthis coun-
try, SO that the successes with which
General Dyrenforth's experiments seem
to have already met are the more salts
factory.
Rain Theories,
At least three closely related theories
are recognized and acted upon by the
rain makers in their experiments.
Stated briefly and bereft of technical
terms these are as follows:
First, it is believed that the formation
of many rain storms Is begun by the
of warm, moisture-laden cur
rents of the upper air strata, with the
cooler currents which flow near them,
and frequently in an opposite direction.
Such currents can be found in any
locality, and it is believed that the
enormous air-waves, which are pro-
duced by explosions in the upper air,
start them to so mingling. AS the warm
current is cooler its moisture is squeezed
out of it as from a sponge, and con-
denses into the form of clouds, and
finally rain drops. The process is pro-
gressive one, and from small beginning
will multiply upon itself.
In the second place, it is thought that
the conclusion from the explosions tends
to shake together or agglomerate the
particles of moisture in the air.
Thirdly, the great amount of friction
between particles of the air, and also
those of the earth, generates large guam
titles of electricity, and causes polari-
zation of the earth and the clouds, and
this probably produces magnetic field
which tends to draw together the parti-
cles of moisture.
How the Currents Are Mixed.
The aim is to cause explosions which |
shall most efficiently and economically |
produce these results.
To mingle the upper air currents, bal !
looms filled with oxy-hydrogen gas are |
exploded at a great height. The method |
of manufacturing the gases can be read |
lily understood with the explanation !
which follows:
The balloon is first spread Oh the |
ground and filed one-third full of oxy-
gen gas, which is made by passing re- J
torts containing chlorate of potash and a 4
little black oxide of manganese through |
a gasoline furnace and allowing the gas !,
TO escape through wash bottle TO the |
balloon.
The partially filed balloon is then at
tached by a pipe to the hydrogen ap- |
which consists of large tanks
containing iron filings and water into
which suiphuric acid Ia slowly decanted. /