The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-24

instance at Fort Scott, when the bust
ness men OF that city generously assisted
their friends in the country TO raise s., 600,
for rain was badly needed and needed
right at that time. Two days were asked
by the rainmakCrs, which were given in
the contract The two days passed away
and still the skies were brassy without
sign of moisture, The rainmaker pleaded
for only twenty-four hours longer, as he
had faith in his barometer, which was
rapidly falling.
The farmers desired to grant the exten-
sion of time, but the city men, who held to
the old iogy idea that q contract is a
contract refused. Desiring to maintain
his reputation the rainmaker determined
to continue at his own expense, and re-
main in his little shanty another twenty
four hours, where his prayers were min
gled with his chemicals. The mixture
dld not produce the desired result and the
fields still begged for moisture.
The water wizard packed up his chemi-
calls, sold the planks used in the construc-
tion of his shanty, and took the train for
another county in which he had con
tract. But the barometer did not tell lie
The next day there was a downpour that
exceeded the desires of those who most
lOnged for rain. Fields were flooded, and
the lowlands were greatly damaged The
agent of the rainmaker hastened back and
demanded pay for what he claimed was
his rain He did not get it, but on the
same day the rain came in Morris county
within three hours after the mysterious
work in the shanty had been commenced
for which he received 81 500, so he was
not much the loser.
There are five ottheSe rain companies, all
claiming to have the same method An ef-
fort was made TO consolidate them, which
failed, but out of this effort came a com
bnation and a division of territory that is
apparently satisfactory. How long this
amicable arrangement will continue is not
very prOblematical, as the head of one of
the concerns this week sent on to Washing
ton the final papers TO complete a patent
on the process, when the inevitable royalty
VIII be demanded and paid rather than
admit that the whole thing is a fraud
The head of the company, securing q
patent ON Melbourne's process, is a
farmer who has been successful in making
money out Of those who labor in the fields
Melbourne feared to trust the patent Of
flee with his secret, prefcrring TO sell IL to
the government, which could thus give
rain whenever and wherever needed He
wanted 81 100000 for the process, and
would take no less.
More practical, and at the same time
more thrifty, the Kansas men have been
working the eastern counties of Colorado
anu INC western counties OF NeDfdSkh
and this state, and have been deriving a
revenue that is all net profit.
The average farmer sees his crop dying
for want Of moisture, and he fears to take
chances that the scheme is fraud. He
reasons with himself, aided by the spe-
ciOus arguments of the rainmaker that IL
success comes he will have rich returns
and if failure follows he will not be out
very much. He therefore invests.
He had invested in the alliance, he had
| given money TO the Peoples party, and he
had aided local populists into offices. He
could not see whore he had been specially
| benefited, but then the theories had been
all right, and would have relieved his dis
| tresses If it had not been for the perverse
owners of the money he had borrowed,
VINO wanted their own back again
He believed rain could be compelled TO
fall, for it was in the clouds and needed
only a little shaking out. The rainmaker
evidently had faith in his method and
what was life but faith after all. SO he
reasoned and so he pays out his money,
for the rainmaker is not the man to take
cOllateral-he wants his money secured
before he induces that other part of his
firm, the clouds, to give up the precious
fluid.