The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-19
THE LAWMAKERS.
PROPHETS IN ALL AGES WHO
PRETENDED TO WOO RAIN.
Prof Myers and His Balloon Farm at
Utica-Iudian, African, Arabian and
Various Other Prototypes OF the

Now that the United States government
is about to enter into the business OF rain
making on a scale so colossal as to chal-
lenge our admiration and to make us be-
lieve that "dry spells" will hereafter be I'M
known, even in prohibition centers, says the
New York Journal, it behooves us to see
what the rainmakers Of other lands and
times have done.
But first let us salute Prof. Carl Myers,
who, at his balloon farm at Frankfort, near
Utica, in this state, is toiling away at the
apparatus which is to precipitate showers
on the thirsty earth whenever it wants
them.
Prof. Myers has the only balloon farm in
the world. He calls it thus because the same
conditions of weather are necessary fer bal
loon making as for farming.
He makes his "rain>producing bombs" in
| a ravine just back of his farmhouse, where
the cloth of which the balloons are con-
structed can be protected from wind aud
rain. He has produced a material imper-
| vious to hydrogen gas, which will dissipate
itself through the pores of the most dense
metal or perfect glass.
| This cloth is vanished and hung 10 the
raVine to-day. Some eight or ten coats are
applied by varnish machine, which Is
wonderful network of rollers and scrapers
If rain were to fall upon this vanished
cloth before it is thoroughly dried, the
fabric would take fire and be destroyed by
spontaneous combustion, like old Krook in
| BLEAK House."
Out Of this cloth Prof. Myers makes bal
| looms ten feet in diameter, which are in
| f1ated with one part of oxygen gas and two
parts Of hydrogen gas. Then small car
tridges, Connected with two wires, are
placed in the balloons, and they are sent
up.
The account of an eyewitness Of some Of
| the recent experiments is interesting:
when balloon is sufficiently high the
cartridge is exploded by means of electric
ity sent through the wires and the two
| gases unite, forming water. This serves as
a nucleus TO precipltate the moisture of
the atmosphere, and there is rain. Last
May Prof. Myers and Gen. Dyrensforth
made their first experiment in this line in
the ravlne short distance from the farm.
Then few balloons were taken to Wash
tngton, and in the presence of several Off
GERS and scientific men another experiment
was held There was perfect success. The
balloon was exploded and the gases united
| with the most terrific report and brilliant
illumination. 1t rivals the sun in brill
fancy.
PROF. Myers says that the explosion that
would occur If a twenty-foot balloon were
employed would cause the most terrific re-
port ever heard on earth. In experiments
TO be performed in Texas there will be
bombs of dynamite carried up by kites and
exploded in the air, and morrars will dis
charge large quantities of giant powder
Prof. Myers has shipped to Texas the most
unique outfit ever gotten together in the
world. 1t is a complete laboratory TO be
used out of doors for the manufacture Of all
the gases and chemicals to be used in the
experiments"
The adventurous rainmakers will soon
begin their experiments in Northern Texas
the arid region of the United States. If
rain can be produced by explosions in the
air and among the clouds these balloons
will do it, One hundred of them, each ten
feet in diameter, have already been shipped
| to Texas
The ancients called Zeus. the mighty, "the
cloud-compeller." But the terms of gran
deur reserved of ancient Jove can fairly be
3 claimed by Prof. Myers if no succeeds.
] Think of bringing on showers at will al
over the region where there is so much suf
fering from drought in Texas, Southern
Kansas. Dakota. Arizona, and even in oul
. Middle states 10 prolonged dryness.
An Old hard-shell Baptist minister Of thu
L southwest was once praying for rain. whilt
his congregation was cycling him grimly
as il somewhat critical of his supplications
= The good man noted their expression from
8 the corner of one eye as he prayed. 80
9 Lord, +" he said, send down RAIN Not {
i tearing and laundering shower, o, Lord, t.
= | root up tho crops and raise all the criks
a but rRle soothin'. old-fsshioDed drizzle
II drczziep The farmers faces softened. Thel
o saw that their minister knew what to pray
|, for.
n Rain-makersina all ages have been adroit
K | Every pastoral and agricultural community
has had them and has cried unto them In it
l nF Tr hae oil 2
death whenever they make a signal failur,
in their predictions.
l. But the savage rain-maker has ever beer
fertile in expedients. In the first place. b.
= was always more weather wise even thar
! the rude farmers who employed him. He
knew that rain might be expected from the
direction opposite to that In which the
E hedgehog places the mouth OF his nest
70 Every sign Of rain which was neglected
20 by others was eagerly welcomed by him
J. To his acute mind rain was near and he
would redouble his lamentations to bring i
on when ducks and brakes fluttered thei
l wings more than usual when young horses
) rubbed their backs on the ground; when
sheep began to bleat and skip about; whsr
n swine were seen to carry hay and straw t.
Q hiding places, or when oxen licked them
selves the wrong way
II In like manner he knew that the grateful
:, moisture was not far off when frogs croaket
l ElOTe kOau ubuhl, Wu6u swallows u6W 0DOu
and chanticeers ran with lowered head
when donkeys carried their ears prickeC
forward: when ants came running out o
T. their hills when cranes assembled in grea
$ fiocks, and when waterfowl came hurryin,
y to land
le Studying all these signs the savage o
10 the primitive ratumaker was often enabled
: after seeming struggles for days with tn
70 powers of the air to announce rain an hou
or two before it fell, and on such OCCASION
no honors we're too great for him. Among
the Kaffrs Of South Africa the king him
l. self must be submissive to the successful
y "rainmaker"
is From time immemorial the African rain
y maker has been dignitary. Every fetic
n man on the coast processes to be produce
d Of showers when they are needed, provided
you give him the right materials But som
times it is impossible to secure those things
Then the rain maker has his clients on tn
SIS hip.
If The missionary, Moffat, tells a good stor
l. of the rain-maker among the Kaffirs who
10 labored for fortnight TO WOO the braze1
skies in vain.
The king began to get very surly, and i
looked as IL the unluoky prophet woult
l. merely be allowed q chance between beinl
It knocked down with assogais or having hi
v brains dashed out with q knob-kerrie OF
e being torn to pieces by four stout men.
One day. however, a little shower hoveret
near, and finally moistened the kings corn
fields. Messengers at once went, radian
with joy, to embrace the rain-maker.
-. ~ L.