The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1897-08-20
WANT TO MAKE RAIN.
Many European Scientists Trying to
Solve the Problem.

The scientists of Europe have taken
up the problem of rain-making. This
has been brought about by the semi
successful results in the United States.
The German government has already
offered reward of 10000 marks to any
one who shall successfully demonstrate
that downpour of rain can be caused
at fairly moderate expense, and the
chances are that before many months
the world will see a practical test of
what may come nearer success in the
way of rain-making than anything ever
before accomplished.
There is also another feature of the
problem which the European scientists
are discussing that has not previously
been brought up to any great extent.
and that is plan for countries where
rain falls necessarily to stop such a
fall. 1t is much like considering the
two points of the compass, and yet sa
wants declare that as much benefit will
result to the world by the discovery Of
how to stop rain from falling as by the
discovery of how to make it fall.
Of the two it is easier to deal with the
attempts made to stop rain, because
less has been done in this direction.
There is, indeed, a patent the object of
which is to deal with tornadoes, and to
rob them of their evil effects by means
of an explosion in the midst of the tor
nado itself. But it would be unfair to
science not to admit that if it has done
nothing to prevent continual rain, it
has done much to mitigate the evil eff
fects that floods bring in their train.
A superb system of measuring and reg
istering the heights of rivers by means
of gauges is carried out in this country.
In the case of the last flood very early
notice was given to the residents of the
threatened districts in Arkansas, Louis
lana and western Mississippi of the i'm
pending danger.
The number of attempts have
been made to induce rain to fall is le-
gion. Money has been spent lavishly
with this end in view, and good invest
ment it would be if the success were
commensurate with the expenditure.
Scientific men have given their evil
dence for and against the success of the
experiments that have been tried, and
yet the question remains unsettled.
There is always the doubt of simple CO.
incidence of events to disturb the judg-
ment on the point of strict cause and
effect. The area, too, over which the
experiment is to be tried cannot al
ways be satisfactorily defined, either
with reference to the results obtained
or the benefits conferred.
The wind bloweth where it listeth,
and it may be that the rain-making ma
terials, supposing them to be effective,
are waited to a considerable distance
before they become operative, or before
they meet with the necessary conditions
that insure precipitation.
Those efforts to produce rainfall
which approach to scientific method
may be grouped under the following
heads: First, noise. 1t has been con-
tended that the firing of cannon and
the din of battle have generally been
followed by rain. But when statistics
are carefully sifted there does not seem
to be much ground for the belief, and
no one would probably care to risk his
peace and comfort in the very uncer-
tain hope that great uproar would
bring down the needed rain.
Second, the explosion of balloons
filled with dynamite or other explosive,
some distance above the ground, has
been advocated and repeatedly tried.
with what measure of success it is diff
cult to say. Nearly allied to the con-
cussion method is the attempt to chill
the atmosphere by the rapid evapora-
ton of some highly compressed gas.
Then, again, it is asserted that the
establishment of an electrical connec-
ton between a cloud and the earth by
means of a kite will induce rain to fall.
Such means evidently supposes the
existence of a cloud; but inasmuch as
periods of drought are liable to be ac-
cOmpanied with long continuance of
blue sky. the method, even if successful.
cannot always be applied, and in point
of general application falls below the
level of the other suggestions.
Condensation is the result of chilling
the air. The ascent of the lower strata
of the atmosphere into the higher re-
gions and the consequent expansion
and loss of heat is the most probable
cause of rain. and it is not impossible
that the air near the ground, being
made to rise by being artificially heat
ed, might tend to produce the desired
dOwnpour.-N. Y. Herald
The Natural Bridge of To-Day.
The Natural bridge is 215 feet in
height, 100 feet in width, with a span
of 90 feet. Under the arch might be
placed the Washington monument at
Baltimore. Cedar creek, the stream
over which it stretches it's arch, is clear
as crystal. No photograph or painting
can impress the mind with its inn
mensity or grandeur, or geometrical
proportions, or the rich coloring, or the
picturesque surroundings. One must
feast his eyes upon the mighty arch
to realize its vastness. Under the arch
are the outlines of an American eagle,