The record-union., 1897-08-18
TO MAKE RAIN.
European Scientists at Work Try
ing to Solve the Problem.

The scientists Of Europe have taken
up the problem of rainmaking. This
has been brought about by the semi
successful results in the United States.
The German Government has already
offered a reward of 10000 marks to
any one who shall successfully demon
strate that downpour of rain can be
caused at fairly moderate expense,
and the chances are that before many
months the world will see practical
test of what may come nearer success
in the way of rainmaking than any
thing 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 a 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 savants
declare that as much benefit will re-
suit 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 tornado itself But it would be
unfair to science not to admit that if
it has done nothing to prevent contin-
ual rain, it has done much to mitigate
the evil effects that floods bring in their
n A Of ri 1cr
and registering the hight Of rivers by
means of gauges is carried out in this
country. In the case of the last food,
very early notice was given to the resi-
dents of the threatened districts In Ark
ansas, Louisiana and West Mississippi
of the impending danger
The number of attempts that have
been made to induce rain to fall is
legion. Money has been spent lavishly
with this end in view, and a good in
vestment it would be if the success
were commensurate with the expendi-
ture. Scientific men have given their
evidence for and against the success
of the experiments that have been
tried, and yet the question remains un-
settled. There is always TIE doubt
of simple coincidence of events to dis
turb the judgment on the point of strict
cause an defect. The area, too. over
which the experiment is to be tired
cannot always be satisfactorily defined
either with reference to the results OBJ
tanned or the benefits conferred.
The wind bloweth where it listeth
and it may be that the rainmaking ma
terials, supposing them to be effective,
aH tn
before they become operative or be-
fore they meet with the necessary con-
ditions that insure precipitation.
Those efforts to produce rainfall
which approach TO scientific method
may be grouped under the following 2
heads: First-noise. 1t has been con-
tended that the firing OF cannon and the
din of battle have generally been fol-
lowed 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 rair.
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 If is
difficult to say. Nearly allied to the
conclusion method is the ATTEMPT to
chill the atmosphere by the rapid evap-
Grafton 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
meains of kite will induce rain to
fall. Such a means evidently suproses
the existence of a cloud: but inasmuch
as periods of drought are liable to be
accompanied with a long continuance
OF blue sky, the method. even if sue
cessful, cannot always be applied, and
in point OF general application falls be-
low the level of the other suggestions.
Condensation is the result Of chill
ing the air. The ascent OF the lower
strata of the atmosphere into the high
er regions and the consequent expan-
sion and loss of heat is the most prob
able cause of rain, and it IS not inpos-
sloie that the air near tho ground. be-
ing made to rise by being artifcially
heated, might tend to produce the de-
SIRED downpour-New York Herald.
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