The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1892-02-12
Artificial Rain.

Our summer weather has taken cold.
We suppose this snow storm is the di-
rect result OF tile rain meeting of last
Saturday at Piedmont Speaking about
tho rain meeting brings to mind the fact
that, the knowledge obtained last week
that Melbourne and the Goodlantl Arti-
fetal Rain Co. arc in no way connected,
has q slight tendency to cast a damper
on the enthusiasm OF some OF our arti-
fetal raln disciples. A great many
differences OF opinion prevail, Some
think itlooks as If there IS II "nigger IN
the fence" while others think that it
would be most unreasonable for us to
think OF q company Offering to contract
to give test rains for 5000 and sell
county rights for $1,000 if they were
not certain they could produce rain at
will.
We think it was q fortunate thing that
Mr.. MONTGOMERY failed to get to Pied
mont on the both as it gives time to
consider the matter. The executive
committee might have, in their enthusi-
asm, made IL contract which they might
have had reason to regret i'll the future.
Il said executive committee will lend us
their ear we will give them q note oi
warning in regard to being too ready
and willing to make q contract on the
plan we understand to be proposed by
the Artificial Rain Co., viz: 5000 ior
test or trial rain and five county rights
at $4,000 EACH Now we must confess
that at first sight this seems to be one
OF the fairest OF propositions, but after
more mature reflection we think we can
see II loophole. We have learned during
Il business experience with fellowmen for
the past quarter century, that there Is
always someone ready to take stdvant-
age Of his feilOwmen when he can profit
thereby even in distress. Is there not
an opportunity to do SO right now:
We are all like the drowning man. ready
to GRASP even d straw" The ram
question has been agitated and reports
claim that success has crowned the
efforts OF certain rain producers. In
our anxiety for rain we are ready t.
contract with any man who Offers to
produce the rain without insisting on !,
thorough test i. e. a seasons test.
You ask, GLOW can we be deceived, OF
i'll what way can a rain company profit
by making such contract with the
STIMULATION, no rain. no pay?"
Our answer is this: The fact that !;
long period OF time is asked in very arid
districts III which to make experiment.
prove to our mind that rain might bt
produced satisfactorily in the spring
with but little effort when the atmos
phere is laden with moisture, while tho
same apparatus might fail when Tho
atmosphere VAS almost devoid Of mois
throughout this entire ARID region
This being the fact unscrupulous cor
poratii'n might eve don't say they aft
doing so) take advantage OF the aeri
culturists in their anxiety for relief. re
Illustrate, suppose they make contracts
with three or four states of the arlt
portions thereof, giving test rains II
each case for every five county contract
at 50 800 and should only prove sue
cessful three times out of ten, which is
very probable, at least possible, espec
tally ii nature should come to the rescue
you can readily see that it would lt
quite Il profitable enterprise when they
could carry off Si2 800 in each vi three
out OF ten trials. Now, Mr. Editor, w
do not want it understood that We art
an unbeiiever i'll artificial rain W.
believe 1t is among the possibilities and
do not think That we are commended tx
sit with folded arms and depend or
natures God to supply all Of our wants
that sentiments too much tainted with
antedeluvi;lnism to be applicable in the
present age. / is suitable sentiment
for Adam and Eve in the garden o
Eden and one, which il oheycd, might
have prevented the present emergency
We are inclined to the belief that il mar
errs in either respect, 1T is in not Twin!
up to higher privileges and making llst
OF everything that IL wise providence has
placed here for his benefit. With til,
wish that success may crown the efforts
Of those who are laboring in the cause
OF irrigation, we remain yours for
ARTIFICIAL. RAN