The state herald., 1891-10-02
The Ralnmakers.

The contradictory reports OF the
operations OF General Dyrenforth and
party In Andrews county, twenty-five
miles from Midland, are such as to
cause newspapers to doubt the rigid
veracity Of the printers types. 1t
should be remembered that one OF
the party Is reporter for several pa
pers. His specials always claimed
for the experimenters the most COM
plete success, and this, too, regard
less Of the weather. The point &c.
lected for the experiments is twenty
five miles from anywhere else, and
can only be reached by private con-
veyances. 1t seem to have been &C.
lected with view to avoid publicity.
However, 1cras Farm and Ranch
man got there und spent u portion OF
two weeks on the gruuni.
The day Of his first arrival six
hour rain had been reported at the G
ranch by special in the Fort Worth
Gazette. From Midland to the ranch
was dry and dusty; and at the ranch
was not the least indication Of rain.
Prof. Myers and other members OF the
party, stated that there had been no
rain. Probably they had not read the
special. On the Goth of August an
otner victory was claimed. The writer
drove from Midland to the ranch the
next day, there had been no rain at
the ranch. Rain had fallen not many
miles away. No experiment had
been made to which this rain could
have been considered response.
This Information was directly
prom prominent members Of the
party. About 8 o'clock the night Of
the 22nd. some exp osives were fired.
| A storm which struck Omaha, Ne
braska. p. m, and Kansas City 5 p.
m, was then near Santa Fe and the
parallel OF SO. 1t struck the ranch
about midnight, but brought no rain
to the staked plains; further east fine
rains fell. There was evidently no
connection between this storm, origi.
rating in the Rocky mountains, and
General Dyrenforth's quiet camp.
On August 23d General Dyrenforth
and several OF his party, passed
through Fort Worth EN- route to
Washington city, and according to n
Gazette interview, claimed complete
success in his experiments. Under
date Of August 25th specials were
sent out claiming that more rains had
fallen at the ranch in response to the
party's efforts. IL would seem from
this that the reporter OF the party
had been left behind. OF this last
success citizens OF Midland know
nothing.
The writer's report in TcTds Farm
and Ranch. OF September LIST, was
made up from personal observations
and Information obtained from mem
bers OF the party-principally from
Prof. Resell who kindly volunteered
TO furnish any Information wanted. 1t
Is fully confirmed in every important
point by letter from Col. Hawkins, a
prominent attorney of Midland. to the
Dallas NeWs, and also by the follow
Ing from Midland correspondent OF
the Colorado Clipper:
"Leading citizens will certify as
follows; The Dyrenforth party has
as yet done nothing in the way OF
making an experiment Reports to
the contrary. all Of which have been
sent out by member of the expedi.
tion, are absolutely false
The entire thing from beginning ia
end was ridiculous farce. As "a
this there can be no question. 1t il
not claimed that anybody is TO be
blamed for the result. II was pure
experimentation with apparatus new
TO the experimenters, and In an un
favorable position. The dificultie,
could not be calculated from tn,
terms OF any known theory. The ex'
perimcnis were attempted and failed
That's all there Is about it. And tn,
theory OF producing rain by atmos.
pheric concussion remains INFESTED
-1erdS Farm and Ranch.