The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-04-29
Iuent upon the ascending of moisture

quenG upon the aSceuoinS VI d MOISTURE
bearing body of air.
To illustrate the latter statement,
wish to quote that eminent scientist,
John Tyndall, in regard to the action Of
"Mountains as Condensors:" "When
| the moist stratum encounters the base OF
| the Kerry mountains Qreland) il
| is tilted up and flows bodily
over them, its load or vapour
is therefore carried to a height. It is
chilled in consequence of the expansion
and comes down in copious showers of
rain"
Reading carefully the above statement
we get a clear understanding of the
cause of so much rain on the windward
side of mountains and where the noun
tains are not too high, of the moisture
which floats over the summit and falls
on the leeward side.
The moisture currents have
their origin mainly near the equator,
where the heat impaired by the sun
causes columns of hot air mixed with
vapor to ascend. Thence they flow
world wide to the north and south. dis
charging portions of their moisture as
they become cooled. Much of their
moisture is deposited on the mountains
when it would do much more good if
deposited on the plains and valleys over
which the currents have passed. Much
of their moisture also is carried to the
extreme north, where the rigor of the
season causes it to fall. The latitude of
Hudson's bay is known as a rainy lati-
tude.
When in state of true vapor these
currents are invisible, but when partially
cooled the vapor becomes visible as
clouds. There may be an abundance of
moisture overhead and the sky be clear.
Adjacent to these currents of warm
MISUNDERSTANDING air are colder currents,
but as they are carried along by differing
degrees of inertia and differing slightly
in gravity, they mix but slowly.
To mix these currents is the aim of all
rainmakers. The governments attempt
tie mix them by explosives, failed be-
cause of the elasticity of the air. MIR.
Melbourne, the Australian rainmaker,
certainly cannot accomplish anything
with handful of chemicals.
Mechanical means has been the source
of mans greatest achievements in mining,
agriculture, transportation and manu-
featuring, then why may it not be SO
rainmaking?
propose that we use a large sheet of
canvas suspended from two or more
balloons. The sheet is to be placed at
bearing current of air and drawn to act
as an inclined plane by ropes attached to
the lower corners and leading 10 the
earth. The current striking this sheet
will follow the line of least resistance
and be carried upward by its own inertia;
it will cool by expansion as it rises and
will be further cooled by contract with
the colder air above.
The balloons are to be held captive and
can be sent to the proper heighth to de-
feet the moisture bearing current. The
proper heighth can be determined by an
accession by an operation
supplied with thesproper instruments.
Using sheet 200 by 400 feet, 4 billion
cubic feet of air per hour would
be carried up by current
travelling ten miles an hour.
This quantity of air cooled should yield
rain, in addition to which
the cumulative effects should yield
much more By cumulative effects we
mean the atmospheric commotlon pro-
duced by the condensation. of vapor to
water, which means a shrinkage to less
than a 10O0th part of its bulk as vapor; the
fall of the rain drops and the release of
latent heat. Personal observations has
convinced the writer that parts of south
western Texas and all of the Indian Ter
ritory and Kansas can be supplied with
rain by this mems, as there is plenty OF
moisture floating overhead.
1t is our duty and our interest to try
this and any other practical plan OF
rain making, the best means probably
being to get an appropriation for the
purpose from the state or national
The cost of balloons and
equipments would be about $50, 900.
The entire plant could be moved around
from state to state wherever needed.
JAMES PITKIN.