The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-09-20
MAKING RAIN.
WAe IL Entitled 10 the Chief CrsAit n,
the Latest Developmentss

TAXING RAIN.
VIE IL Entitled 20 the Chief Cru, a.
the Latest Developmeatss
TO THE EDITOR OF THE suN-Sr. A n,
Sur 10 one OF the few newspapers which nav
mentioned my name In connection with The
recent rain-maktng experiments. l beg lesvs
70 make the following statement:
1t was observed By many during our Ia.
civil war that battles OF any considerable MAJ.
nftude were almost Invariably followed b,
heavy rains. Tho eame thing had bean Nh.
served in former wars. and was noticed in Tho
Franco russian war in 1870. Who first SUE,
Rested in print that heavy artillery 6rlns
would bring on rain 10 not known, but II h
said to have been mentioned BY Benyen.
uto Cellini. the italian artist who died
In 1870. and. at one time in his lita
performed some military exploits. Tho sub.
jsct was also mentioned BY AraRo, the noted
French physicist and statesman. who died IN
1853. Tho superstition Of the ancisns In ~
gard to rain following battles. which 1. Often
mentioned by the opponents OF the conclusion
theory. was an entirely different matter. Z. II
referrsd to rain happening not Immediately
after battles. but . long time after them and
| after the bodies Of the slain had putrefled.
In 1870 suggested. in an article published
IN numerous papers throughout the oountry.
that some experiments ought to bs under.
taken to develop the natural principle that
seemed to be involved and determine II II could
not be made OF benefit to the country. At the
| same time assumed tho task of investiest
the subject and collecting facts bearing on IL
In 1871 published the nrst edition OF War
and the Weather" Tho solo purpose OF this
| book was to advocate the undertaking
By the Governments Of such experiment.
| and in It facts and arguments wore
presented going to show that thers were
the strongest reasons for believing that
such experiments properly performed, would
be successful Later lectured on the sub.
tsct throughout the country. In 1871 and again
In 1874 memorislized Congress on the sub.
ject asking that An appropriation b made foe
such experiments. These petitions were pre-.
ssnted through the Hon. O. B. Farwell OF iii.
nots. who was then . member Of the lower
House. Mr.. Farwell became interested In tho
subject and made various efforts to secure the
appropriation asked for. In this. however, b
did not succeed until during his last term q
Senator. When ct last no did succeed the
amount ct nrst appropriated was only S20OQ
Later $1,000 moro was added to it IfIam not
greatly mistaken. this latter amount was not
secured until had sent large number Of
eopiss OF War and The Weather" to members
eestlon that should do 90. 7 hope may = sI =
book seldom fail to ip press Intelligent and M.
oss q sie boef 6 81 a9
great nsyspapers Of the country. includ.
fn from TEE sbs sSs rd dhs therein
ton ton OF the circulation Of the stmospIsrA
tf boyt shs1; !. nhwsys oyins q as
Ocean 2 sutiieienoy q aqueous vapor to MAKE
rain: has never. 90 far a. know. been 40.
he ra1 ssol1 sna s
their ne strongest weapon i1 the assumption that
sqiioisnt vaD r ior DrodSc Hi rain - "Sn' OF
81 II: effort to benefit ne country By Ii: q.
Il should II Ha' 81 a.: II;
eny GHs shne credit belongs to me and MOTTO
q cGSssoIioa With eoss VT ia sho sSa ss,:
:ss:..a Ssss ts:a sassxs Of Ct s. s:
not WEE 10 Sa
g. ~ seIv!oss Tor well new 1ss' that iH s.pse;
sSe Ssa adn co. fe' !hf Dy ssoqa
Ihts ge9tiema1 had done nothing to bring The
% d. IT, fsd had sa S:
Ssn asaty wRioh hs was enthuslastio over and
has he ssGcsSY haVs the
unity Of testing It. As Il was represonte thls
" noens OF Usnoons greater results could DO
pa s,h a1d at less expense than hy any
had nothing to do with the espsrimenss u:
cept TO witness them.
90 not wish at tho present time to OK.
ptose any opinion In regard to the efficacy
o. eap!osions IA the air BY means Of
t Ihnmoons, further than TO say that am more
the explosions 10 on the earth or only a fsw
Ras been said about one Samuel Kugglss Of
virginia having patented the idea OF making
s OK IN the atr to produce rain. I wishn
ny, ny ina, ne was not the original inventorot
dated Feb. %. 1873. but The Gicao" IriJMS
o. Zee. r.. 1876; contains the following item;
mara New LeRland) Niar. " has been promuL
gazing n9ysl scheme in Hor.ham for produs
itS rain. no asks the district to Join COZ.
dilmeter. He proposes to Mi these wi h sui.
ncient gas to carry them into the regions OF the
RAINY clouds. aud nut In each oil the bal! onss
canister OF powder; When su fllciently high 10
tho cir no would light the pow Ter BY means
score snInp ny: sS
time in the mitst Of the rain clouds would, hs
!hlnks. break thsm. Whether anything more
!nan smoke would result remains to b
II Will thus he sseu that even II tho balloon
bnStnod should yet be adop ted hy the unit,d
huegles would have no lust claim for dam
ages Ior infringement OF patent.
Author Of" War and The the 'wSssAth.L'
DELAvAN. Wis, Sept. 10.
To THE EDITOR OF THE sUN-Str: In the l's