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. Ia
1864 ths total at San Francisco
amounted to 10 08 inches, at Sacramento
to 7.S7 inches, while for the least sea-
sonal rainfall on record in 1S50-5l at San
Francisco Az inches, and at Sscra-
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
fail, when vegetation suffered and crops
were ahort for lack Of rainfall. These
facts are mentioned to show that arti-
tlcial means are necessary to always in
sure sufficient moieture for good crops,
though N favorable years-iavorable in
asmuch that the rain has been we'll dis
tributed-arti6ciel means need not be
reeorted 10 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 fallscy took such 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 wero 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
raekarock. No rasults 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 telegTaphic report was followed by
othera. AS the actual operation and re-
sult have become known, the attitude of
the newspapers became changed from
unsuspecting and ready acceptance to
aatire and ridicule. Where millions
saw the dispatches only hundreds have
read O detailed account OF the exact
facts, and vast number Of people still
believe that the experiments were in
some degree successful, and Concussion,
when made for the purpose, will pro-
duce rain: 30 errors which will require
years of teaching to eradicate have been
eown broadcast in single summer, and
the rain-naking myth is added to the
numerous errors about the weather
which already prevail.
Charlatans, aharpere and fakirs have
not been slow to seize the opportunity
thus afforded. Artificial rain COM
panies have sprung mp and are yet en-
to of DO nd hn for NJ iu
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 10 moet 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-
ton of rain, but the newspaper reports
we're 30 conflicting Rs 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
yonr opinion on the matter" This is in
anever to Mr.. Davison's letter.
For example, suppose you take cubic
mile OF air upon which operations were
made in Texas on the night of Friday,
November 20, 1892. The record shows
the temperature OF the air as 72 degrees,
tine dew point 81 degrees. To cool down
a cubic mile OF thai air to the dew point
would require the abstraction Of as
much heat as would raise SIS, 900 tons OF
water from the freeEing to the boiling