The Wichita daily eagle., 1891-10-04

, GooDLAND, Kan, Oct. 3.--Melbourne
gave up his rain experiments yesterday
afternoon, at the suggestion of the citizens
! committee which had the matter in charge
1t is understood that if rain falls before g
new test is made that Melbourne is not to
have the credit. About l o'clock last
night Goodland was wet with the tail end
of rain storm which deluged the country
from Phillipsburg 40 miles west TO Jen-
| nings eight miles east. Melbourne Is not
satisfied with his test and will wait until
I he high winds have fallen and the clouds,
which the committee agree are OF his
making, have cleared away before making
n new test. From the beginning TO the
end of his experiments the wind main
tanned velocity of from thirty y-hve to
forty miles per hour. Melbourne is salts
fed that n rain cannot be preCipltated
while the wind maintains such high We
locity. Since the experiments began IL has
raned all around Goodland, the heaviest
fall being north and east, in which direc-
tions the wind would naturally have
carried it.
Whether there is anything in the expert
ments of Melbourne or not, he has con-
vInced the majority of the people here
that lie holds the possible solution for
drouth breaking, and before he leaves
GoOdland his method will be given a
thorough test. Melbourne's confidence in
his method cannot be doubted. He says
that he will not accept anything for his
work until be has produced such down
pour that the committee in charge will be
| thoroughly satisfied that it was Melbourne
aud not Jupiter Pluvius which brought it,
Ii the conditions are favorable the next
test will probably begin next Monday.
MELBoURNE's CAREER.
Frank Melbourne was born near the
city of Dublin in Ireland thirty-four years
ago. He was educated in the schools of
| his native village. Although he never at
| tended college, be lmpresses one as an edu-
Gated gentleman. His voice and manner
of speech would lead one who is an observ-
er in such matters TO pronounce him an
! Englishman. In Statu he Is tall, his
! height being about six feet His weight is
about 10 pounds. His features are some
what Jewish. This is especially noticeable
is his prominent Dose His complexion is
| dark, but fresh and ruddy. His hair and
eyes are dark brown. His well-kept beard
Is a lighter brown, and is tinged with red
at the eXtremities. Taken altogether, he
Is a good looking young man. Were it
not for the fact that be has such a soft, re-
fined voice and habit of blushing when
he speaks, his would be a commanding
presence.
At the age of 81 Melbourne left Ireland
and went to Australia, where he lived on
a ranch in the state or province of Queens
| land. As is well known, Australia has a
dry climate, and ranching there has as
many or more drawbacks than it has in
the dominions of Uncle Sam. Not the
| least of these IS a scarcity of water.
While living on this Australian ranch
Melbourne determined to solve, if possible,
the problem of water supply. Irrigation
was impracticable, consequently he boldly
undertook the task of producing rain by
artificial means. This task was under
taken about four years ago. Melbourne
claims that be experimental about three
years before bis efforts were successful.
After succeeding about a dozen times in
Australia he left that country last Janu-
ary and went to New ZeaIand-twelve
years after his departure from his native
! Ireland. In March last he came TO the
United States and made his home with his
brothers in Ohio This last circumstance.
no doubt, accounts for the claim of differ
ent newspaper writers that he is an Ohio
man,
Soon after arriving in Ohio last spring
Melbourne made a successful attempt to
produce rain. There was naturally much
interest in his experiments. He took a
contract to furnish rain during the crop
season for a considerable area of the Buck
eye state. When harvest came on and he
had fulfilled his part of the contract he
went west and experimental largely in
the Rocky mountain regions. Many of
the results are known to the reading
public. The accounts seem so unreason-
able that the general public has only
noticed them to sCotf at them. 1t must be
confessed that it requires a wonderful tax
on the credulity to demand belief in one
half of the statements that have lately |
been published regarding this wonderful |
man.
Melbourne claims that he has never /
failed to produce rain in any of his at /
tempts since came to the United States. At |
Tampa, ID, however, he abandoned his |
attempt after a few hours work because |
the signal service announced rain within |
a few hours. One-tenth of an inch fell. !
but he SAYS that inasmuch as the condi- |
tions We're so favorable the test was not |
satisfactory not conclusive.
Mr.. A. B. Montgomery, president of the |
GOodland Town company, and very in |
telligent gentleman, was seut by the peo-
pie to investigate Melbourne while in Utah /
few days ago The test was made in the |
Utah desert, where lain seldom falls
Many prominent men went out to wit
ness the result, which was copious rain
Mr.. Montgomery came back TO GOodland
will satisfied with what be saw of Mel
bOurnes wonderful power. In answer TO a
question he said there is u wide difference !
between the Ohio valley and the Rocky
Mountain region with regard to the ease
with which rain can be produced. and
also as regards the phenomenon OF the /
precipitation itself. He claims that rains
are more easilyproduCed in lower ATTITUDES
ii. c. nearer sea level. The difference
with regard to the preci pitation lies in the
fact that in Ohio the rainfall was great
est AZ the place OF experiment and de-
creased gradually As the distance Increased
in going from this pisce. In the west he
claims that the reverse Is true-that the
greatest rainfall Is usually several miles
from the point Of operation.
In answer 70 another question be said
that his process consists IN the employ
ment Of chemicals aud is 50 simple that
anyone could fully understand il in a
short time. He said anyone. by his pro I
cess, could become successful rain !
maker
Itis his desire to sell the process 20 the
government Of the United States. He ASKS
s, coo go Tor the invention II he can %
on aud demonstrate thai e is uuquesJioa {
ably a success II would be worth a Thoas- {
and times that 70 the people of the United {
States a.one- The hopes OF million peo-
pie are 70 % revived or blasted by these er-
perlmentS q Ma b0urues. said 3 ranch
man OF eastern Colorado: 4. iss question
ol .te sDd ceRth IN my neighborhood. II {
be can succeed We viii stay IN the country ]
and depend on the artificial pTeci ipitztion !
of moisture, but 4 he fails o1r hopes are 2
blasted ana We might as wei .eave the +
country, as irrigation seems almost im-
possible sud The range has become PRETTY a
'yel eaten out from overpasr Irll-e Il DRY I
veAt her After stock raising we nave D
loShluS lefI. a