Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-01-01

the
Iture.
.6 years
ass. He
IN 1877,
Germany.
the Roval
After return
charge of tine
rtment at Rose
rre Haute, Ind,
then he has been
ansaS When ask led
Dyrenforth's expert
I'D:
10: cause rain to fall.
Dws this An explosion
mediate in its effects. 1t
he propagation of sound
travelling at an immense
but an instantaneous action
through which it passes and in
3dually fritters away into heat.
erature and density in the air re-
IS than second Consequently,
raj Dvrenforths heavy explosions
a fall of rain, it should have poured
almost instantaneously, which it did
do. as the rain came hours after the
plosion
No Rain for Hours After Explosions.
Another evidence given of the concus-
ION theory is that rains frequently follow the
leavy cannonading in battle and the explo-
ions of the Fourth of July But these
aims do not come for hours afterward-
ometimes not until the next dav. Then
here is the thunder storm. The fact that a
lightning fash and its thunder are usually
oilowed by a sudden increase in the down.
,our OF rain has been frequently attributed
o the discharge Of electricity in the clouds.
mt you notice that this increase and the
ash occur almost simultaneously. So the
.rops OF rain must have started from the
Iouds previous to the flash in order to
each the ground at so nearly the same
ime The same evidence precludes the
hunder as well as the lightning, as the
ause. 1t seems to me that all the proof is
sainSt the aound theory
t'NOu it the effect in General Dvren-
orth'- \ experiments, in the cannon
dinr and on the Fourth of July
nd- uder storm, but you deny the
~ at cause, then, do you ascribe
rainfallo"
lucts of the explosives In
liorth's experiments minute
s Of silica and carbon were
he explosions of the dynamite
K. My theory Is that this fire
nc into the upper air layers,
uclei about which the moisture
condenses. and finally forms rain
rops ihe lain could not fall until this
ad taken place. Very small particles of
asst may form the nuclei of raindrops, and
he sudden presence of fine powder in the
oper strata OF air will lead to condensation
sufficient moisture be present This is
roven bv the well known fact that hail
ones, which are products of vapor conden-
ltlOn, often show a nucleus of particle of
ust and in volcanic regions of a granule of
shes. The center Of condensation in these
iseS was a dust particle.
Dus: Causes Moisture TO Fall
'In recently making some laboratory ex-
eriments with an air pump, to determine
ay relative difference in the properties of
ifferent dustS as regards their power for
Iade wears ago by John Aiken, that if the
ir In the receiver be first filtered through
Dtton wool, to be free from dust, no
DndensatiOn will take place. There must
some solid nucleus, as dust, present. |
lund further that with different powders
itroduced, the amount of apparent con-
ensation varied. CARBON, silica, sulphur
ID common salts are particularly capable
& precipitating the moisture, while the
urning OF sulphur or gunpowder gives
eavy visible clouds of vapor
''OG course the experiments I have made
The laboratory are only suggestive of
hat may take place in nature. Yet it
ems Legitimate conclusion that the finest
lst introduced artl6cialy into the higher
-ions of the aStmosphere will furnish
uters for condensation, and by gradual
--lomeration OF moisture induce rainfall
ar, under everv atmospheric condition
lutall could not he expected. for there
ust lie sufficient water vapor in the atmos-
lere above to gradually collect upon the
ISL"
How do Won account for the MANY in
anceS where dust or volcanic ashes have
en- superabundant, even in the upper air,
ID no increase of rainfall was noticed?"
Cheap Fire Balloons Made to Answer.
1T is simply case of too much of good
ing. If the number of dust particles is
-eessive. the amount of the moisture in
e air, always limited, will be divided 4
long SO many that the agglommeration
ron each will not be sufficient to cause it
fall asa rain drop"
CIV would you propose to carry your
cory into prsctice?'' !
I would suggest the use of the compara-
ely cheap fire balloons, doing away with |
expensive and cumbersome apparatus
ed by General Dyrenforth BY sending |
several of these mile or so apart there |
uld be carried into the upper alr guam |
Y of impalpable powders, which could be 1
altered by an feasible means The burn |
Of sulphur or Of Sunpowder by means of /
ses timed for the proper height of the |
lloons might also be tried. If this dust |
cory be true the amount of powder borne |
oft and exploded from the balloons need /
be beyond the limits of practicable ex- |
limenting, and, if successful, artificial |
ms could be produced at cost which |
sneyal Dyrenforth's explosive lombard !
sntsNcannot approximate"
H., uT.