Asheville daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1890-1900, 1891-08-26
ARTIFICIAL RAIN-MAKERS,
THEY MEET WITH WONDER.
FUI. SUCCESS IN TEXAS.
How the Laws of Nature are Pro-
posed to he OvercOme-Show
Of Rain to be FrOduced-This 10
surely an Age Of Progress.

surely an Age Of Progress.
MIDLAND, Tex, Aug. 26.-Hcavy and
refreshing rains fell here Monday, thus
saving the growing crops from the effects
of a whitening drought.
And strange as it may seem, the rain
was not produced by natural causes.
1t was caused by the government rain
producing experiments is which have been
practiced here by Colonel pryenforth and
his assistants.
And they have achieved wonderful sue
cess. Verify it is great triumph OF
science over the laws of nature. This is
the second time within the past week
that they have manufactured heavy
rains, besides several light showers, and
deserve much credit for the judgment
exercised in making these experiments.
They began operations here little
more than week agp, and have been
diligently at work at the scheme, but
some of the most powerful apparatuses
have not been used They have, how
evee, exploded large quantities of giant
powder, hydrogen gas, rackarock mix
ture and dynamite in balloons and in
kites. The reports OF the weather bureau
al Washington clearly show that the ex-
pei imcnts here have had gread effect
upon the meteorological conditions.
The series OF explosions, whicllasted all
last week produced light broken clouds
on Monday night. The artificial clouds
hoated overhead, hiding the moon
from view. A large quantity of racka-
rock mixture was then exploded and in
less than minute dreuchng rain was
falling.
The experiment WAS watched by three
score or more people, who pronounced it
a success.
The experiment was successfully re-
pcated four times during the evening.
Whenever a cloud laated overhead a
quantity OF rackarock would be ee1 ploded
by Colonel Dryenortn. and in less than
q minute heavy ram would be falling.
Tuesday the explosions were continued
all day, and about night the rain began
falling in torrents, drenching the earth.
A much more effective and powerful APP
paratus will be used soon by the rain.
makers, and wonderful results are cx-
pected.
The thirsty prarics will be watercd,
and parched vegetation will take a new
lease on life.
WASHINGTON, Aug. 26.-Acting Secre-
tary Willetts believes as Col. Dryeniorth
does, and has no hesitancy in saying so.
He said:
Those rainfalls where our party has
been working were no condolences. The
previous condition of the weather, it
would seem to me, would take the coin.
cidence theory from the mind of the
skeptic. They had had no rain down
there. The rain-producers, as the news
papers called them, went at it and there
was rain. But, Of course, it will take
general public"
"Do you think they will be convinced
this season."
THAT cannot tell" was the reply
at depends upon two things. One i:
whether the prevalence OF high winds
may not SO handicap the working party
as to prevent them attaining the bes
results, and the other. and in it is con
tained, think, the greatest difficulty, ii
the question of money. You see these ex
periments are necessarily very costly
The appropriation for the work was onl.
SO, 1000; of that sum $4,000 was spen
last year in getting ready, getting to
gether the necessary material and pre-
pairing the paraphernalia. That LEI
$1,000, which has been eaten into al
ready to healthy extent" 1t was ex
Senator Farwell who secured the appro
priation for the work. Everybod
laughed at him. 1t now looks as if h
might before long be able to do som
laughing himself