The herald., 1894-04-16

In the season OF 1867 the total rain
fall at Los Angeles amounted to 528
inches, at San Francisco to 10 inches
and at Sacramento to 996 inches. la
1864 ths total at San Francisco
amounted to 10 0S inches, at Sacramento
to 7.S7 inches, while for the least sea-
sonal rainfall on record in 1S505l at San
Francisco 7.4O inches, and at SacrG-
mento All inches fell. In a period OF
45 years there have been three seasons
OF drouth in California, and in addition
several years OF markedly deficient rain
fall, when vegetation suffered and crops
were short for lack OF rainfall. These
facts are mentioned to show that arti-
ticial means are necessary to always in
sure sufficient moisture for good crops,
though n favorable years-iavorable in
asmuch that the rain has been we'll dis
tributed-artfcial meane need not be
resorted TO to produce good crops.
A popular iallacy exists that after all
great battles heavy rain fell, and that
the rainfall was due to cannonading.
This fallacy took such q strong hold of
some that congress was induced to make
an appropriation to determine whether
rain could be produced by the use OF ex-
pIosives. The experiments were con-
Quoted in 1891 in Texas, under thu
charge of the forestry division OF the
agricultural department. The official
report on the subject, made by the me-
teorologiet who accompanied the expe-
dition, contained the following: These
experiments have not afforded any sci
entific standing to the theory that rain
stormu can be produced by concussion."
When the expedition reached Mid
land, Texas, some experiments were
made to test the material composing the
rackarock. No results were expected
from the tests, but the following after
noon considerable rain fell. An EN-.
ployee of the expedition took upon him
eelf the sending of the following mes.
sage: Fired some explosive yesterday
afternoon. Raining hard today" The
first telegraphic report was followed by
othera. AS the actual operation and re-
suit have become known, the attitude of
the newspapers became changed from
unsuspecting and ready acceptance to
satire and ridicule. Where millions
saw the dispatches only hundreds have
read q detailed account of the exact
facts, and vast number Of people still
believe that the experiments were in
some degree successful, and Coneussion,
when made for the purpose, will pro-
duce rain: so errors which will require
years of teaching to eradicate have been
sown broadcast in single summer, and
the rain making myth 10 added to the
numerous errors about the weather
which already prevail.
Charlatsns, aharpers and fakirs have
not been Glow to seize the opportunity
thus afforded. Artificial rain COM
panies have sprung up and are yet en-
T. 1nfh a,xIt ho f,rr Nf
and other states by contracting to pro-
duce rain and by selling "rights'' to use
their various methods.
Rain makers are now at work in this
state, especially in those sections where
the deficient rainfall is most noticeable
in it's effects on crops. Mr.. Edgar B.
Dawson, of Ballard, Santa Barbara
county, writes this office under date OF
April 5, 1894: Would you kindly in.
form me as to the possibilities Of causing
rain by artificial means. We all know
that during the Harrison administration
experiments were made on the produc-
tion of rain, but the newspaper reports
were 30 conflicting as to be entirely un-
satisfactory. Were these experiments
as complete failures es some authorities
would have US think? We have the
prospect of dry season staring US in
the face, and there is some talk of rain
experiments Will you kindly give us
your opinion on the matter" This is in
answer to Mr.. DAvison's letter.
For example, suppose you take cubic
mile OF air upon which operations we're
made in Texas on the night of Friday,
November 20, 1892. The record shows
ths temperature OF the air as 72 degrees,
tine dew point 81 degrees. TO cool down
cubic mile OF that air to the dew point
would require the abstraction Of as
much heat as would raise 8S, 900 tons OF
water from the freesing to the boiling