The Sunday herald and weekly national intelligencer., 1891-07-05

production OF rainfall by firing explosives
from balloons. The patent is that of General
Daniel Ruggles, of Virginia, an old Army
officer. General Dyrenforth, however, had
already discarded the idea of firing explo-
sives from balloons. The plan having been to
send up high explosives and set them off in
the air, he thought 1t would be best to make
the gas employed to carry up the balloon it.
self and the explosive, and suggested that
mixture OF hydrogen and oxygen be em-
ployed In the proportion of about two of
hydrogen to one of oxygen this mixture of
gasses, upon ignition, explodes with great
force and produces water, thus presenting q
nucleus for aggregation of more.
A preliminary experiment, merely to test
the working of the apparatus, was made near
General Dyrenforths country place on Piney
Branch, on the oath of June, and was highly
successful. The experiment was conducted
in the presence OF Assistant Secretary of Ag-
liculture Willitts, Professor Langley, of the
Smithsonian Institution; Major Powell, chief
of the Geological Survey; Assistant Secreta-
ries of the Treasury Nettleton and Spaulding,
the Comptroller of the Currency, MIR. Lacey,
Commissioners of Patents Mitchell, General
Ruggles, and many other distinguished scen-
tiiic and practical observers. The weather
was not perfectly favorable, since there was
strong breeze blowing. The first balloon, how
ever, sent up rose to the altitude of about
1000 feet, and being held by duplex cleo
trcal wire, was attached to a small hand
dynamo. After giving the signal General
Dyrenforth touched the dynamo, and in an
instant the balloon exploded with terrific
force, the report being much louder than that
of ten-inch gun and of much greater vol
ume. The first appearance was that of ball
OF fire instantly followed by a spreading disk
of flame and then by shower OF minute par
ticles like dust. After the explosion two
other balloons were prepared and were sent
up tandem, the electric wire communicating
from one to the other. Upon again pushing
down the handle of the electrical discharger
the balloon nearer the earth exploded in
stantly, bit moment of time interviewed be-
fore the explosion of the second one The
roar or conclusion from the explosion from
neither balloon was as great as that of the
first.
The last two balloons were sent up for the
purpose of q secret test. This test was to
ascertain in the first place, whether there might
not be great preponderance of hydrogen,
thus saving the more expensive and difficult
to-make-oxygen, and in the second place, what
might be expected from charge of dynamite
In balloon. The top one of the two balloons
had two sticks of dynamite in it., into which
the electric fuses were lead which had to ex-
plode before the balloon could explode As
the lower balloon exploded, the one without
the dynamite in it, but with the proponderance
OF hydrogen, some of the fuses caught fire,
showing that there was not oxygen enough to
combine with all the hydrogen to form water,
lire to the shreds ofthe balloon.
The balloons made of fabric though il is
intended to make them of cheap material,
namely paper, were prepared by Professor
Carl Myers, practical balloonist, of Frank
fort, Herkimer County, n. Y, and the hus-
band of the well-known lady aeronaut, Car
lotta.
General Dyrenforth has started West with
large party to continue the experiments
In addition to the tremendous conclusion
incident to the explosion of the mixed gasses
1t is to be observed that the combination of
these gasses 1.-TWO parts of hydrogen and one
OF oXygen), by the explosion, is really water
and there is, perhaps, thus presented a nu-
cleus Tor the aggregation of globules of mofs-
ture. While moisture in the form of yapor is
specifically lighter than air, when aggregated
III mass, 1t is heavier, and would thus be pre-
cipitated.
La future experiments reliance will not be
had alone upon the explosion of these gases.
IL Is proposed, in addition, to send up kites
with dynamite or other explosives attached,
the substance to be exploded by electricity.
and besides there will be cooperative explo-
slons on the surface of the earth, as from
wooden mortars buried in the ground. The
entire expenditure need not be at one opera
uon. LII is intended to keep up the concus-
sion for perhaps several days.
Argos Excursion Tomorrow Night.
The excursion which the Argo Club will
give tomorrow night promises to be
thoroughly enjoyable and successful. In ad-
dition to the talent which has already been
to take part in the musical pro-
gramme which will be rendered on the
cfnap