Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1893-05-19

prove the theories of scientists who
claimed that conclusions in the air
would produce rain. The experiments
in Texas were unsuccessful, though
conducted under favorable circum-
stances. The balloons sent up laden
with the moisture-producing chemicals
we're exploded and burned without
effect, though once there was rain from
natural causes.
Just why the explosives were sent
up into midsir instead of being set off
on the ground puzzled many people
who watched those experiments
Failure was the result, and the theo-
ries of producing rain by conclusion
were abandoned, though they are still
held to by many who experienced
rains after the great battles of the
war
These theorists apparently forget
that the heavy rains of that time came
as often before a shot was fired as they
did afterward There are many who
will remember the hard rains in Ken
tucky, Tennessee and Missouri that
often preceded battles where much
powder was burned
The rainmaker of the present time
does not depend upon noise. In fact,
he wants quiet and perfect stiffness,
alleging that disturbances in the air
and on the surface of the earth disas-
trously affect the action of his chemi
Gals. When the time comes for him to
produce rain, which is invariably after
a contract has been signed by which
he is to receive ten dollars O day for
himself and each of his assistants, and
$1,000 when rain or even moisture de-
scends, for he is not above accepting
the dampness of heavy fog, he goes
into little shanty and commences his
mysterious work.
This workshop is of itself a curios-
ity 1t is usually little board struc-
ture of ten by twelve feet, with no
windows. The floor is raised three
feet from the ground, in which is a
trap door through which the operator
nscends to his place of temporary con-
finement.
He has placed in the shanty tub of
water, his satchel of chemicals, and
provisions for himself for three or four
days, as he remains there until success
or failure attends his efforts.
In the roof of the shanty stovepipe
protrudes, through which he is sup
posed to direct the clouds that come at
his bidding This, the only avenue of
communication with the outside world,
is supposed to be for the purpose of
forming the escaping fumes of his chem
icals into a column which attacks the
skies and causes the clouds to form.
When the agent of one of these rain
companies visits a community, and a
bargain is made and the papers signed,
the date is fixed in accordance with pre-
rious engagements. These are always
determined after a careful study of the
predictions of those scientists who make
the weather their special study, and
sort out the weather a month ahead for
the benefit of their subscribers.
The farmers who enter into obliga-
tions to pay the $1,000 for so many in
ches of rain have no voice in determin-
ing the time when the rain shall be
produced, or when the experiments
shall be conducted.
For fear that the surrounding coun-
ties might derive some benefit from the
rain that is to be produced, the agent
then visits them and forms a rain dis
trict by which they have to pay lesser
Gum, in consideration of the overlap
ping rains. They are permitted to es-
cape with an assessment of $500, OF
even a smaller sum, if that amount is
not subscribed. In this event the
weather representations, should they
prove true, are forced to yield a revenue
to the enterprising rainmaker; for rs q
rule rain will visit some portion of the
region in which operations are con-
Quoted
Mistakes are sometimes made, as in
the instance at Fort Scott, when the
business men of that city generously
assisted their friends in the country to
raise $4,000, for rain was badly needed,
and needed right OF that time. Two
days we're asked by the rainmakers,
which were given in the contract. The
two days passed away and still the
skies were brassy, without a sign OF
moisture. The rainmaker pleaded for
only twenty-four hours longer, as he
mad faith in his barometer, which was
rapidly falling.
The farmers desired to grant the ex-
tension of time, but the city men
sho held to the old fogy idea that a
contract is n contract, refused. De
string to maintain his reputation, the
rainmaker determined to continue ut
his own expense, and remained in his
little shanty another twenty-four
hours, where his prayers we're mingled
with his chemicals The mixture did
not produce the desired result, and the
fields still begged for moisture.
The water wizard packed up his
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