New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-08-06
LNOTUFP WOTLD-BE RAIN-MAhER


An Australion named Melbourne, now abiding
for a time in Ohio has devised a machine with
which he manufactures and projects certain gas
upward into the heavens, and thereby, he CLAIMS
produees rain. What certain Buckeyes nave
taken to be the results of some of his recent at-
tempts in this direction have won him great deal
Of notoriety; and the Department of Agriculture
has recognized him far enough to ask
what evidence he can produce in support OF his
assumptions, though not begging to be taken INTO
his confidence in regard to the secret Oh MS
process.
Whatever one may think of the practicability OF
ooaxing rain from the skies by this or any other
human device, men like Melbourne deserve to be
treated with respect so long as they seemingly act
in good faith. Fair play and the Importance OF
this matter Of rainfall to millions of people demand
this But if, on the one hand, they are not TO he
summarily denounced ofhand as cranks" or
frauds it is not necessary to go to the other ex-
treme. and precipitately concede the genuineness
of their pretended successes. The popular MIND
likes to have definite opinion. 1t hates to Gus
pend Judgment. Any one who has acquired the
habit of sitting and weighing evidence, however,
much prefers to wait until the case has been pre-
sented in a way that will preclude the possibility
Of erroneous decision; and questions involving
physical phenomena which are not yet fully under
stood are much better determined by experts in that
branch Of knowledge than by people whose forte lies
in other directions, by an eager but uniformed
populace This is equally true, whether the can
didate for fame and fortune be q Koch, keely or
conjurer 1t Is certainly for the interest of both
public and inventor-if he really have invented any.
thing Of value-to have his claims passed upon by
some such competent tribunal. For Mr. Mel
bourne the Ohio State Board Of Agriculture, or the
Ohio State Weather Bureau, or the faculty of
Oberlin College might possibly be able TO provide,
upon request, the necessary court of inquiry.
| This board, probably would then consider points
like these Could Mr.. Melbourne, short notice,
make it rain op days carefully selected because of
the very low humidity of the air, or when other
circumstances favor drouth? How probable is 1t
that it would have rained anyhow certain other
days that his machine is employed? What were
the general meteorological conditions over a wide
area of country just before and during the tests
And if, as has been the case during the last few
weeks much heavier rains fell down in the Gulf
and South Atlantic States than in Ohio, how far
were the former due to Mr.. Melbourne's persua-
sions? Would his service be equally eficacious in
what Is recognized as an abnOrmaly dry season
over wide rs in an exceptionally wet one like
the last fortnight? Until the Australian seeks and
| secures favorable verdict from authority such
as is suggested and upon issues like the ones
raised herewith he can hardly expect much en-
enlargement from cold-blOoded and calculating
capitalists or from scientists of high standing.