Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-11

Where coal Is scarce and horses are numerous.
| UNCLE SANS RAIN MAKERS.
Line of Battle Two Miles Long on an Arid
Kansas Prairie
GONE TINE WITHIN THE NEXT FEW
~ days there is going to be a noise out in
western Kansas. Uncle Sans rain makers are
bound thither with a provision of explosives
sufficient to stock fair-sized volcano in active
operation. They take with them three score
balloons, each ten feet in diameter when ex-
| banded. Likewise about 100 kites five feet high,
freight car full Of wooden mortars to fire
bombs from and many thousands of pounds of
| dynamite, gunpowder, nitro-glycerine and
other powerful agents for agitating nature with
spasms. IL there is not second deluge in the
region mentioned within a fortnight it will not
be for lack of effort on the part of Gen. Dyren-
| forth and the Department OF Agriculture.
Seven thousand dollars yet remain of the
$1,000 appropriated by Congress for this pur-
pose. and SO there Is no need to economic on
the fireworks for the preliminary experiment.
Because 1t Is a matter of history that storms
| have often followed heavy cannonading in war;
fare, 1t has been thought desirable to attack
| the sky for this meteorological purpose
with regular line of battle. A con-
venient and excessively arid plain
will be selected tor operations and the
wooden mortars will be planted across it in
drills, as it were, for a distance of about two
miles, They will be loaded with dynamite.
rackarock and other materials calculated to
agltate the atmosphere as much as possible.
while at suitable intervals Of space the balloons
Will be arranged for ascension. simultaneously
hight OF kites will be let loose in the air.
SCIENTIFIC NOVELTY.
The three score balloons will in themselves
represent an extraordinary scientific novelty.
They are all completed now. and each one is
calculated to hold about 525 cubic feet of gas
one-third oxygen and two-thirds hydrogen.
The oxygen is put in first and then the
hydrogen. Each balloon, upon being inflated
ascends under control Of double wire
which serves instead of rope to
hold il by. When it reaches the desired height
the button OF an electric instrument on the
ground is touched, spark ignites fuse in the
balloon and the oxygen and hydrogen
suddenly combine with q terrific explo-
sion. Experiments made recently in this
city show that such an oxy-hydrogen balloon
detonation, the cloth or paper vessel it.
self appearing for an instant and by daylight
like ball of fire. Few things can be magined
more curious than this phenomenon. which
signifies that the two gases, at the touch of
fire, have united in the shape of drop or two
of water. which harmless fluid consists of two
parts Of hydrogen and one of oxygen.
But, as has been said. the balloons will be
supplemented by great kites. each of which
will be held by a.doubled wire instead of a
string. Their tails will carry dynamite and
other explosives. which will be set off in the
same way by the electric spark. Meantime
while the oxy-hytrogen bags explode and the
klte-tails go bang, the buried mortars will
vomit forth rackaroek TO the heavens all
along the two-mile line. For at leas: two and
possibly three days the racket will be kent up
the object being to make much noise as
possible. Then the expedition will hoist its
umbrellas and calmly await the downpour,
oonsoed for the inconvenience bv the acciama-
ton Of an agricultural population, which has
learned to appreciate the fact that moisture 10
wealth.
WHAT WILL BE LEARNED
1t must not be supposed however. that this
bombardment of the heavens will be conducted
without scientific method. Before it is begun
the observers of the expedition will ascend
in a suitable aeronautic balloon and find out
by the way the hygrometer works at what
level the explosives may be most advan-
tageously set off. If they discover the great
est amount OF moisture at an elevation of
loo feet that Is the stratum of air in which
they want to do their work. The theory of
Tie matter no one pretends to understand very
thoroughly, but 1t is imagined that the artif-
clal combustlticatiOn, as scientific men would
cay, makes sort of vortex or hole in
the air, into which the heavier moist
particles rush, so az to occasion
surmised also that the small particles Of water
made by the explosion of the combining oxygen
and hydrogen form IA sort of nucleus for other
Particles to gather about Another important
IDEA Is that the watery particles In the atmos-
phere, being heavier than the rest Of the air
are shaken out Of 1t by conclusion and fall
upon the earth.
RAIN MAKERs OF OLD.
Il-informed persons have been disposed to
scof at this effort which the government is
making to sprinkle the arid regions of this
country wfth gentle though artificial rain
from heaven. which has been compared by
Shakespeare to the quality of mercy. They
have strlyen TO prove that the idea was new
and not sufficiently grounded on demon
straton. failing TO realize That methods for con-
trolling rainfall old as history In India
and III many parts of Africa the rain maker is
the most Important persunage in every COM
munlty, though his methods are precatorlly
rather than xplosively scientific No less an an
thority than P!utarch declares that rain usually
falls after battles, although it must be admitted
that IN his time gunpowder had not been in
vented. He SAID that the storms were sent by
the gods TO cleanse the earth that had been pol
lated with blood. Also in some parts Of En-
rope as late as 1910 il was the custom TO d!spel
storms by the firing of guns. But if reliable
data on tins subject have been lacking hitherto
they will be supplied by the forthcoming ex-
perlments In western Kansas, and il is likely
that the time will shortly arrive when every
one will be able to regulate showers for his own
garden patch.
Seriously, however. the notion Is that, sup
posing the efficacy OF explosives for producing
rain once proved, communities OF farmers might
make ii their business to establish decorating
plants. employing for the purpose balloons
kites, mortar bombs or what not. The bal
looms to be used in tine approaching govern
ment trials cost about s22 apiece. but the ex-
pense entailed for a score of these would
be consequence TO district Tor which
single good shower might signify sit, 900 or
even SlOO, 600 OF value.
g.io f..p