Clinch Valley news. [volume] (Jeffersonville, Va.) 18??-2019, 1891-11-13
MAKING RAIN.
STORY OF A, CURIOUS AND ri.
PoRTANT EXPERIMENT..
ATTEMPTS to Make Deserts Bloom
by the Aid of Explosive Way up
IN the sAtr-The Work Au.
thorizeu by Congress.


Some yearS ago an Illinois engineer,
Edward Powers by name, published q
little book showing that many of the
great battles of the world had been fol-
lowed by rain, and arguing chat it might
he practical to produce rain by explo-
sions of powder. He estimated, how
ever, that the experiment would cost
from $50, 600 to $50, 600, and his theory
was not taken hold of.
Senator Farwell, of illinois, however,
became much interested in the theory,
and on talking with other members of
Congress who had had war experience
found that they believed in the theory.
He also found another supporter from
another walk of life, and u very valu-
able contribution it was to the informant
on the subject. This supporter was no
other than Senator Stanford, who said
that his experience in building the Cen
trail Pacific road was in direct support oil
the theory. Much of this road was built
through section of the country where
rain seldom, if ever, fell. Yet, soon
after the work began in this rainless re-
gion, and the hslvy blasting that was
necessary to cut the way through the
mountains of granite was under way,
there was frequent, almost daily rains,
and this condition continued until the
blasting ended and the road was built,
when the rain ceased.
So clause was added to the appro-
priation bills in the two sessions of the
last Congress, appropriating $4,000 for
experiments to be conducted under the
direction of the Department of Agricu-
ture. In looking about for somebody to
conduct the experiments Assistant Secre-
tary Willetts found that General Dyren-
forth, ex-Patent Commissioner, had given
the matter some thought, largely through
his acquaintance with Senator Farwell,
and he was asked tc take charge of the
work.
The field was I'm entirel, new one. He
began the study of the history of battles
with reference to rainfall, then the ques-
ton OF explosives. He soon conceived
the idea that if it is conclusion that acts
upon the air to produce this result, it
would be better that the conclusion
should be in the stratum of air where
the rain is to be formed. How to get
it there was the questions To send up
captive balloons was easy, but to send
them up loaded with dynamite or nitro
glyccrine, and take the risk oil some of
them getting away unexploded was too
serious.
Besides, the explosion of dynamite or
nitro-glycerine produces too quick and
sharp sound. What he wanted was
something like thunder, which will shake
the atmosphere. He remembered that
sharp claps Of thunder in the midst of
rain are often followed by great in
crease in the rainfall.
Being himself a graduate of the school
of technology, he was perfectly familiar
with the fact that combination of hy-
drogcn and oxygen gases is easily cx.
p,oded and with the most violent results.
The happy thought suggested itself to
his mind that these gases will be needed
to carry up the balloons which were to
transport the explosives, and the very
article furnishing the motive power
might itself be the explosive best fitted
for the work. So he experimental, and
exploded few balloons near Washing
ington with the most astounding results.
This matter satisfactorily settled, he
set about he practical preparations. He
hunted up Professor Carl E. Myers, the
distinguished balloonist, at his New
York home, aud finding him we'll posted
on the production of hydrogen in guam
titles, directed him to utilize his expo
rience in balloon construction and by
drogen making in aid of the project.
He then devised machire for the pro-
duction OF oxygen in large quantities in
the field, and finding that it worked
perfectly, sent forward a car loaded
with the necessary material for the ex-
periments and followed with party of
skilled assistants and begin the expert
mcnts.
The party consists of General Dyren-
forth as general director of the work :;
Professor Myers and G. w. Caslen, bal.
loonists; DR.. Resell, chemist; Paul A.
Draper, electrician; George w. Curtis,
meteorological
A place will be selected where there is
little or any rainfall at this season of the
year, and near to signal station, so
that the benefit of the services and pre-
dictions of the Observers may be had.
The meteorological and electrician will be
provided with the most delicate instru-
ments for testing the electrical conditions
of the atmosphere. The experiments
will begin in small way, with the ex-
plosion of 4 single balloon, and observa-
ton as to the elect upon the amount Of
moisture and electricity IN the atmosphere
Immediately surrounding.
Experiments will also be made TO dis
cover whether the explosion of the bal
looms will he likely to cause the explosion
of the dynamite or other explosives of
that character which it is proposed to
use simultaneously later on.
Captive balloons will be sent ND carry.
ing observers to test the quantities of
moisture and electricity Mt various
heights of from 1000 to 1000 feet above
the earth. These Will be connected by
telephone with the earth, so that obser-
walton may be taken simultaneously with
delicate instruments on the earth and in
the various strata of air at a distance of
fron, I (lfl0 m r00O foot