The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-09-11
JOHN SMITH,
RAIN AGENT,
representing Lne
TEX 40 THITNDKR nRIl

TEXAS THUNDER TRUST.
Moisture in any quantity furnished day or
night at short notice. Consumers are advised
to make up clubs and thus reduce the cost.
Special rates on large areas
Or we might find in some great metro
politan want medium an advertisement
reading somewhat like this:
WANTED, competent operators on rain ma
w chimes. Only steady men accustomed to
handle large projectilles rapidly need apply.
Then the collector would come around
with his bill for so many rains at 80 much
per rain. So on it would 20. Probably the
man who had the bills to pay would be
about the only one who would fail to see
anything funny in it at the outset.
After it came to be an article Of COM
merce there would soon be trust in rain
which might be productive of unpleasant
results. Few ordinary mortals could
be trusted with the great power such a mo-
nopoly would confer upon those who con-
trolled it.
There is just 30 much moisture In the at
mospbere, and when it has all been eK-
tracted and consumed no more can be had
until it can by natural process be formed.
So the temptation to make corner in rain
| anu JnuS OAuSbAOh VA SVA Vail Va ups
| in certain localities might prove too strong
for resistance.
That portion of Mexico where no rain has
fallen for two years clearly demonstrates
that the atmospheric moisture may be
wholly Withdrawn from large area. So
the rain nonopolist who wished to destroy
the crops of a certain locality could simply
milk his moisture upon some plain or into
some large body of water if he had no prac-
teal use for it.
There is really no reason to believe that
the average monopolist would not be mean
and selfish enough to do such thing a:
that, even though the vegetation and live
stock persisted for want of it over a large
adjacent area. 1t is no more than they dc
with other purchasable commodities.
| On the other hand, the only redress for
the injured would be precariously uncer-
tain suit for damages in the most aggra-
waited cases. Where one mans crop was
ruined by the continued watering OF an
other crop adjacent, after due notice to
stop, the loser of the injured crop might re-
cover. But in the absence of such direct
evidence of injury. an award would be very
doubtful, whatever the injury.
Beside il would constitute dangerously
powerful influence in politics under such q
concentrated control Judging from their
frequent political movements for their own
especial pecuniary advantage there are very
few farmers who would not vote for any
man who threatened to shut of their sup
ply of rain if they opposed him. whatever
his character might be. Entrusted to the
government there is little chance that the
business would be aught else than politi-
cal machine.
Yet if the rainfall could be brought under
the ready and practical control of man,
and be managed in an equitable and inn
partial way, it would undoubtedly be great
advantage to the country, as the moisture
could then be so evenly distributed, accord
ing to necessity, as to make good use of a
great deal that now appears to be wasted.
and also to render productive lands that are
now considered sterile from prevalent
drought. In course OF this process the sur
charged air might possibly be relieved Of
certain superhuous gases which now cause
dangerous atmospheric disturbances.