The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-07-10


When Congress transferred tho Weather
Bureau from the War to tho Agricultural De-
nartmept IL was believed to be wise STEP
because il there is any one class OF people ih
the world more particularly interested IN the
weather than any other II is the farmers IL
was reasoned that II anybody wouid Jake per
sonal interest in weather forecasts. the course
of the winds and the probabilities or possio'ii-
ties of rains billiards, &C., it would be Uncle
Jerry Rusk, the Secretary of Agriculture. ana
that therefore he Of oil others should 20
placed in charge of everything pertaining 10
that important subject.
But IL looks now AZ If the transfer was
mistake. because all sorts of new experiments
are to be tried, chiefly that OF producing ram
in arid places by conclusion. In order to ac-
complish this il is proposed to send OIL BAL
looms charged with oxygen and hydrogen 10
be exploded when at a considerable height IN
the air. Tests are also TO be made in explod-
inc dynamite attached to the tails OF huge
kites. tho explosions TO be effected ov slen-
der wire connected with an electric battery
worked on the ground. These and various
other similar experiments are to be made to
ascertain If rain cannot be produced when
needed by artificial thunder
Now, in view of the fact that oil these OK
plosive experiments are attended with moro
or less noise and danger, does 1t not seem
wholly out of place that the management Oh
them should have been taken from the war
and transferred to tho Agricultural Depart
ment2 Enlisted men in the army are sup
posed 10 be rough and desperate fellows, who
care nothing for life and delight IN handling
euppowder. dynamite and ell such terrible
death-dealing agencies. Indeed, it is part OF
their profession to famIliarize themselves
with such compounds and to become skilled
in the art of blowing up. II. in the acquire
ment Of knowledge SO important to
them, they are themselves scattered into frag-
ments. it is regarded as matter strictly IN
their line OF business. and only to be expect
ed. In fact, they are paid to run just such
risks.
1t is very different. however, with the De-
partment of Agriculture. The very name OF
that department is suggestive OF farm ana
farm life, the synonym of all that is quiet ana
peaceful What can be conceived Of more IN
congruous and inappropriate than that agrl-
culturlsts should be rudely aroused from the
Arcadian simplicity which has always been
looked upon as the peculiar feature and charm
of country existence, to be forced to In
dulge in dangerous practices associated from
time immemorial with grim visaged war?
1t ia plain then that the Department OF Ag-
ricuture should by no means be required to
deal with gunpowder and dynamite for they
are things the furthest possible removed from
rural peace and quiet. while they eminently
belong to men Of war and carnage. So long
as they are to be experimental with, they
should be placed in the bands of those &C
customed TO using them. and if the desired
effect is produced. then let the farmers enjoy
in thankfulness the gentle and refreshing
rains that may he caused by the splitting
asunder Of the clouds and the defiance OF
the laws Of nature by these terrible agencies.
Let the Weather Bureau, with its oxygen and
hydrogen gases, its dynamite and sunpowder,
and its electric wires and batteries be retrans-
ferred to the War Department, that all things
may be conducted decently and in order, and
in accord with eternal fitness.