Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-13

in front of magnets are Systematically draw
ing the lightning from the vapor in the at
mosphere and steam within the earth onto
insulated wires, allowing vaper vesicles and
droplets to gravitate toward each other and
the earth's center, predlsposing to earth
quakes, cloud bursts, floods, and distruc-
tions by lightning. for the more approx
mated vesicles. and droplets, subjected to
intenser solar ray in higher atmosphere by
friction, become the more intensely electri-
fled. The latter, by exposing greater water
surface to evaporation, are adding to the
already superabundance of water in
the atmosphere and consequently to the ice
deposit around the pole to crush in the
planets, crust explode and confagrate her.
also to render the air around the pole
denser, predisposing to billiards, which the
liberated latent heat in condensation aids
by rarifving the air-hurricanes, ship
wrecks, tornadoes, cyclones, etc, due to the
same" In explaining his discovery, DR..
Cahill saws: Until the harmony of nature
be restor d, rain or snow may be had by art
as required as follows:
First-To establish electric communica-
tion between the earth's surface and cloud
base-or to tap the snow line-by metallic
captive balloon with wire cable
Secondly ref1ectorS or solar reflection.
Thirdly producing vibrations striking
key note of thunder. by sounding fog horns,
or running trains on cogged wheels, and
other means than cannonading (which with
dynamite is too dangerously.
FOurth-By magnet powerful enough to
defect the atmospheric electric currents.
Fifth-By throwing a column of air from
surface to clouds, which can be done by
large Blackman ventilating wheels. As 1
could n OF obtain hearing from capitalists, l
ask that the United States Government
operate the methods on the following terms:
Half the profits to endow widows and
orphans homes, the remainder to be placed
to my credit after defraying lawful ex-
penses.
Stolen Thunder as Well as Rain.
Why Mr.. Cahill should charg. Melbaurne
with stealing his thunder is not clear, mas
much as Melbourne operates wholly with
chemicals through an ordinary stovepipe
protruding through the roof of house. He
says he sent description of his plans and
discoveries to the Australian and all for
eign Governments through the State Depart
mem at Washington, and that it is posi-
BILE Melbourne got hold of his theories from
that department and then came west to
Wyoming and, Kansas to make his tests.
81 wrote to Melbourne when he was in
Ohio" says Dr. Cahill, "as we'll as to the
Governor of that State, cautioning Mel
bourne that he was violating the law of the
land unless the United States Government
had employed him TO operate on the terms
I offered. / have instructed my lawyer to
turn the patent over to the Government as
soon as issued to be operated on the terms
above described, leaving the value to the
decision of Congress- He concludes by
calling attention to his caveat and says:
''Shadows, poachers parasites or hell-cats
should not rob me contrary to Constitution
and statute"
The substance of Dr. Cahill's letter was
telegraphed the Chicago Herald on its re-
ceipt by Governor Humphrey, and as soon
as the mails could reach Topeka from Dele
van, Wis, another "original rainmaker"
was heard FROM His name is Edward Pow
ers, and he writes as follows: "A dispatch
from Topeka to the Chicago Herald states
that one, Michael Cahill, NJ. D., of Stock
ton, Cal, has written you, claiming to be
the only and original rainnaker.'. 1t
would seem as though every man who ever
of artificial rainfall now comes forward and
claims TO be the originator of the idea
A Senator Called in to Help Him.
Mr.. Powers calls Governor Humphreys
attention to the fact that in 1871 he sue
question, and that later he secured the CO.
operation of Senator Farwell, of Illinois,
who got an appropriation from Congress for
experiments. He is a firm believer in the
theory that rain has been and can be brought
on by heavy discharges of artillery, and
cites innumerable instances to prove
it. The battle of Buena Vista,
Mexico, was fought on the 22d,
aud 23d Of February, 1s47, the dry season
in that country There had been no rain
for several months before the battle, and
there was none for several months after, but
three showers followed the first days en-
gagement, and again after the hot fight on
the second day. The siege of Monterey,
Mexico, was fought September q to %,
and during the three days heavy showers
fell. The morning of the 23d was bright,
the cannonading heavy. and the evening
and night closed in with heavy rain.
Mr. Powers, in his "War and the Wealth
er," discusses the rainfails following the
hard-fought battles of the Civil War. The
battle of Big Bethel may be mentioned as
an early instance. This battle, fought in
Eastern Virginia on June 10, 1861, was fol-
lowed by incessant rains, while General Me-
Clellan's campaign through that State was
followed by tremendous downpours.
Scores of Battles Followed by Rain.
He follows with review Of scores of
battles - at Lookout Mountain, Mission
Ridge, Ringgold Gap, Pea Ridge, Chicka-