Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1892-09-30
ARTIFICIAL RAIN.

Congress, at its last session appropriate
ed $4,000 for the purpose of experiments
with rain-making, and John Henry King
of South Dakota, and his associates are
waiting for favorable conditions, or
rather are waiting for a "drouth season"
before beginning experiments under
government supervision. In this con-
n%ection the following communication
from Mr.. +. R. Simons of this county
and the answer thereto by the Troy
Times, will be read with interest:
To the Editor of the Troy Times-Dear
Sir: / saw in a recent issue OF your paper
some comments upon the congressional
appropriation to help the raln-makers,yO your
opinion appearing to be that it was a waste
of the nations cash. l have studied the
action of nature in this part of our great
northwest, and | have come to the conclu-
sion that a copious rainfall can be made
by artificial means. In many times of need
the very feeblest assistance of nature by
man is sufficient. Often dense and heavy
clouds pass over us without q drop of rain
falling. Occasionally a peal of thunder is
few moments duration. At such times a
continued explosion would give us all the
rain we needed till nature was again in a
mood to produce more moisture, with a
little assistance.
1t takes certain conditions of the sun and
moon to pull the vapor over the Rocky
mountains, and those conditions are not
of the country, but hurries the low, heavy
laden clouds Over us to the southeast.
And when our prairie is nearly all bare
from the prairie fires, and the sur is beat
Ing against the unprotected earth an at
mOspheric condition is created that gives
little hope of rain in the natural order of
things. F. r. SIMONs.
Wogansport, N. D., Sept. 9, 1892.
Our correspondent speaks of what has
ome under his own observation, and his
statements are entitled to respectful
consideration. This may all the more
readily be given them because Mr..
Simons takes a moderate position. He
does not claim that rain can be produced
at any time simply by bombarding the
heavens with a little dynamite. But he
does believe that under certain condi-
lions, especially in the. locality of his
residence, where peculiar atmospheric
influences prevail, it is possible with a
little assistance from man to induce
Nature to yield blessings which she
would otherwise withhold. That is, If
left to itself Nature would cause her
clouds to drift over the North Dakota
pralries without discharging the needed
moisture, while if at such times man
would come to the front and explode
some artificial thunder, she would re-
spond to the summons and give the
much-desired rain. But. it will be OBJ
served, the conditions must be right.
FThora ~, net ha o1o,,lc ~ L,rl .L.-
overhead, and the explosion must take
place at just the moment to shake out
the moisture held in suspense. All the
racket made by firing bombs into the
air or exploding tons of dynamite on the
earth will be of no avail when the skies
are cloudless and the atmospheric con
aitions ~unfavorable. At least, this is
the conclusion to be reached from a
careful study of our correspondents
statements.
This is not an extreme view, and it
has evidence to support it, as Mr.. Simons
clearly shows. It is a very different
thing from claiming that rain can be
produced by artificial means whenever
or wherever it is desired. As to the
propriety of governmental aid for such
purposes, it may be said that q moder-
ate expenditure in that direction is not
Objectionable if real benefit can be con-
ferred on the farmers. The difficulty
has been that so-called scientists have
shown more Of a disposition to exploit
their particular ideas than to produce
practical results. If the government is
to undertake anything of this kind the
money of the people should be spent in
the interest of the people, not to crafty
the notions of a few theorists.