Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-08-13

First Success Of the Government Expert
mentors In Texas.

First Success Of the Government Expert
menters in Texas.
Ex-senator Charles B. Farwell Of Chicago
received the following telegram on Tuesday
from the government experts with the rain
balloons:
MIDLAND, TEX, August 10.
1.-THE Hon. C. B. FARwELI, Chicago:
preliminary. Fired some explosives yester-
day afternoon. Raining hard today
This is the first fruit of the Senator'S rain
compelling theory 1t is said that theory oc-
cupies place in Mr.. Farwell's affections Sec
ond only to republican success in Illinois.
Anyhow he was pleased.
THAT looks like business" he said THAT
message is all know about 1t. He says you
see, Fired some explosives yesterday after
noon. Raining hard today Brief. but it
covers the case. You will see also that the ex-
plosives were fired merely in a preliminary ex-
pertinent before the real test
Il have had confidence in that theory all
along. Naturally, think none the less of it
because 1T is my own. l worked it out and got
the appropriation through. and Mr.. Dyren-
forth is carrying on the experiments as my
mean to the west if plenty of rain can be
had"
what about the cost of it? Isn't it going to
be so expensive process that its usefulness
will be greatly limited?''
WELL" replied Mr.. arwell. ''the first ex-
pertinent Will, OF course, be rather expensive.
But as soon as the efficacy of the process is dem
onstrated the cost will be lessened. There will
be Improvements. and cheaper methods will be
found. Oh. it will be used If it is a success
what does it cost now to load balloon,
send it up and fire it off,
Can't say. We expect to expend the entire
appropriation of $4,000 OF these first expert
ments. After the practicability OF it is demon
-trated we can begin figuring on the cost CT
each explosion"
rain by blasting the upper atmosphere with
charges OF high explosives sent up in balloons
sometime before the expiration of his senator
nal term. He asked Congress for an appropria-
ton to pursue experiments on that line and
after persistent efforts received $4,000
The services of Prof. Dyrcnforth. practical
scientist, were secured to conduct the expert
ments. Some tests of the apparatus were
made in the east. Then Mr.. Dyrenforth took
his cloud-bursting machinery to Texas, where
1t IL proposed TO make the real tests.
A Chicago man who has just returned from
the west said in reference to the telegram re-
celved by Senator Farwell:
"lou have no idea how eagerly the people
OF Colorado, Wyoming and Utah are awaiting
the results of the raiIi-making experiments
1t is expected that if they succeed vast tracts
IN these western states and territories will be
converted into frst-class farming lands with
irrigation as supplementary method of fur
nlshing moisture to districts which are now
practically deserts"
WHAT ONE OF THE PARTY SAYS.
special from Midland. Tex, to the Dallas
Ne'cs says that the rainfall expedition from the
United States Department OF Agriculture
reached Midland on Wednesday and have SO
far made two successful experiments. The
Ne,cs reporter interviewed one of the party to-
day, who said
saturday and Monday last part Of the rain
making apparatus only was set up and the
preliminary trial made simply to test the eff
cheney OF the special blasting powder, which is
being manufactured at the grounds from ma
terial brought with US. Several bombs were
exploded by means Of electrical dynamos.
Although this powder is very powerful we were
by no means confident that the explosion
would have any practical effect upon the me-
neurological conditions. However, about ten
hours after the explosion clouds gathered and
heavy rain fell, extending many miles.
I'VE do not think the explosion actually pro-
duced the storm. AS they were not on a large
enough scale. but they were undoubtedly in
| strumental in precipitating the moisture which
the clouds brought 70 that locality and greatly
increased the intensity of the storm and the
quantity of the rainfall, which was greatest in
| the immediate vicinity in the place of opera
ton. We will continue cautiously to make
tests as to the density OF the atmosphere in this
particular locality. that our bombs may be
adapted to meet every possible condition, and
when we have sufficiently satisfied ourselves
upon these similar points the decisive expert
ment will be made. This will not occur for
several days"
The Ne,cs reporter did not witness the ex-
periments referred to above. but can testify to
the rain falling in Midday. over twenty miles
from the spot OF operations. the first good rain
for several months.