Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1891-10-02
\ Rain Making Controversy.

We are evidently not to hear the last of
tn, artificial production of rain for some
tine to come, although the experiments
havo not as yet resulted successfully so far
as public belief is concerned. Gen. Dyrep
forth, who conducted the operations i'll
Texas, has prepared article for the forth
coming number of the North American Re-
view In which he claims for his expert
mepts On exceedingly gratifying and en-
couraglng degree of success. Besides three
hesvy storms which occurred after the prin
c:pla operations he says, not less than nine
ehowero of much less importance fell during
tina sixteen days Of his experiments; most
extraordinary occurrence in the locality,
and especially Mt this season Of the year.
Ger. Dyrenforth says that these results
were not produced at an excessive expense
Of material as may be seen from the fact that
in the entire series of experiments only two
tors OF iron, orc ton Of acid, one-GOurth
ton OF potash and manganese, and one ton
Of rackarock powder aud other ezplo-
sves were consumed, none of which
are expensive materials. In the opin-
ion Of Gen Dyrenforth the ex-
periments clearly demonstrate that the
conclusions from explosives exert a marked
and practical effect upon tho atmospheric
conditions in producing or occasioning rain
fall, probably by disturbing the upper cur
rents; and also that whom the atmosphere is
in q "threatening' condition-whch is
frequently the case in most arid regions
without any rain resuting-ran can be
T,lI
together the particles of moisture which
hang in suspension in the air. He says this
result was repeatedly effected during the
operations, the drops sometimes commencing
tc fall within twelve seconds from the
moment Of the initial explosion.
Gen. Dyrenforth also expresses the opin-
| ion that the immense amount Of fractional
electricity generated by the conclusions and
the mingling of opposing currents of air
may have considerable influence in the for
nation Of storm centres by producing a
poarized condition OF the earth and air,
thus creating a magnetic field which may
assist in gathering and so condensing the
moisture of the surrounding atmosphere.
This little rain bubble is thoroughly ex-
| ploded by Prof. Simon Newcomb, one of the
most eminent scientists in tue country by
the application of simple mathematics to
tho problem. He shows that the amount OF
motion diminishes as the square of the dis
tance, and thus, that at quarter of q mile
from the point OF explosion it would not be
! 10-1000th of an inch. The condensation is
only momentary; then elasticity restores
the air to its original condition. As to the
actual experiments, 1000 detonations can
produce no more effect upon the air, OF
upon the watery vapor in it, than 1000 re-
bounds OF small boys rubber ball would
produce upon n stone wall" He says
that ten seconds after the sound OF
tho last bomb died away silence re
suned her sway, and from thai
moment everything in the air--hu
nudity, temperature, pressure and notion
was exactly the same as if no bomb hat
been fired. 1t relation TO what went OF
during the hours that elapsed between thu
sound OF the last bomb and the falling o
the first drop OF rain, Prof. Nowcomb per
tinently inquiries: "Did the aqueous vapoI
already in the surrounding air slowly con
dense into clouds and raindrops in defiance
of physical laws If not, the hours mus
have been occupied by the passage Of mas
OF thousands of cubic miles OF warm, mois
air coming from some other region to whicl
the sound could not havs extended "
When scientists disagree on the sab ec
the continuation OF the experiments ~oult
seem to DC just.nab!e, although the publ
has very little faith in their Ultimate sue