Oakes weekly Republican. (Oakes, Dickey County, D.T. [i.e. N.D.]) 1883-1898, 1891-07-17

volcano in active operation. They take
with them three score balloons, each ten
feet in diameter when expanded; like
wise about 100 kites five feet high, q
freight caf fu,l'of wooden motars to fire
bombs from, and many thousands of
pounds of dynamite, gun powder, nitro:
glycerine and other powerful agents for
agitating nature with spasms II there
is not a second deluge in the region
mentioned within Il fortnight, it will
not be for lack of effort on the part OF
General Dyrenforth and the department
OF agriculture.
Seven thousand dollars yet rem lin OF
the $4,000 appropriated by congress for
this purpose, and SO there is no neel to
econ' mize on the fireworks for the pre-
liminary experiment. Because it is a
matter OF history that storms have often
followed heavy cannonading in warfare.
1t has been thought desirable to attack
the sky for this meteorological purpose
with regular line of battle. A con-
venieut and excessively arid plain will
be selected for operations, and the
wooden mortars will be planted across
it in drills, rs it were, for distance of
about two miles. They will be loaded
with dynamite, rackarock and other
materials calculated to agitate the at
mosphcre as much as possible, while ut
suitable intervals OF space tho balloons
will be arranged for ascension Simul.
taneously q flight of kites will be let
loose in the air.
EXPLOSIVE BALLOONS.
The three score balloons will in them
selves represent an extraordinary scien-
tiffc novelty. They are all completed
now, and each one is calculated to hold
about $50 cubic feet OF g.s-one-third
oxygen and two-thirds hydrogen. The
oxygen is put in first, and then tho hy-
drogen. Each balloon, upon being in
flated, ascends under control OF doubl
wire, which serves in place of arops tc
hold it by. When it reaches the desired
height, the button of an electric instru
ment on the ground is touched, sparl
ignites fuse in the balloon and til
oxygen and hydrogen suddenly com
bine with q terrific explosion Expert.
ments made within the last few days iii
this city show that such an oxy hydro
gen balloon, thus ignited. produces {
really tremendous detonation, tho
cloth or paper vessel itself appearing
for IN instant and by daylight like i
ball of fire, Few things can be imngin.
ed more curious than this phenomenon.
which signifies that the two gases, at
the touch of fire, have united in the
shape Of q drop or two of water, which
harmless fluid consists of two parts oi
hyerogen and one of oxygen.
But, as has been said, the balloons
will be supplemented by great kites.
each of which will be held by doubled
WIRE, instead Of string Their tails
will carry dynamite and other explo.
sives, which will be set off in the same
way by the electric spark. Meantime,
viii while t,, the 20: oxy, hydrogen bags explode
mortars will vomit forth rackarock to
the heavens all along the two-mile line.
For at least two and possibly three days
the racket will be kept up. Then the
expedition will hoist its umbrellas aud
calmly await the downpour. consoleJ
for the inconvenience by the acelama-
tions of an agricultural population
which has learned to appreciate the fact
that moisture is wealth.