The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1897-08-28

y r<fs
xssGlNYSAk Europe have takeI
NJ #Ss.zsEs@k up the problem o
:: !: !: !: !: 4
EgRg IL lsMs rainmaking. This
IlH Ed l4ssgS W. has been brough
sEsfag5sSyS Hsa5Ssys Yz about by the semi
a1 eS5 RSgg1eyf$aSS successful results II
a ESggo,kR the United States
1sSaSNIN The German GOV
I~II@1VSAISA ernment has al.
NJ y ready offered a re.
ward Of 10,G0f
marks to any one who shall success
fully, demonstrate that a doWnpour Of
rain can be caused at a fairly moder.
ate expense, and the chances are thai
before many months the world vii
see a practical test Of what may. come
nearer success in the way Of rainmak.
ing than anything ever before accom-
plished. There is also another feature
Of the problem which the European
scientists are discussing that has mol
previously been brought up to any
great extent, and that is a plan for
countries where rain falls incessantly
to stop such a fall. It is much like
considering the two points of the
compass, and yet savants declare thai
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
q in thic,
a patent the object of which is to deal
with tornadoes, and to rob them of
their evil effects by means of an explo-
sion 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 continual rain, it has done
much to mitigate the evil effects that
floods bring in their train. A superb
system Of measuring and registering
the height 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 residents of the threat
Hened districts of Arkansas, Louisiana
and West Mississippi of the impending
danger.
The number of attempts that have
been made to induce rain to fall is le-
gion. Money has been spent lavishly
with this end in view, and good in
vestment it would be if success were
commensurate with the expenditure.
Scientific men have given their evidence
for and against the success of the ex-
periments that has been tried, and vet
the question remains unsettled. There
is always the doubt of simple coinci-
dence of events to disturb the Judgment
on the point of strict cause and effect.
The area, too, over which the expert
ment is to be tried cannot always he
satisfactorily defined, either with refer
ence to the results obtained or the ben
eflts conferred. The wind bloweth
where it listeth, and it may be that the
rainmaking materials, supposing them
to be effective, are waited to a consid-
erable distance before they become OBJ
erative, or before they meet with the
necessary conditions that insure preci-
pitation. s # s. 4
Those efforts to produce. rainfall
which approach scientific method NAV
be grouped under the following heads:
First, noise. 1t has been contended that
the firing of cannon and the din of bat
tie 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 uncertain hope
that a great uproar would bring down
the needed rain. Second. the explosion
of balloons filled with dynamite or 9TH
zer explosive. some distance above the
ground has been advocated and repeat-
9edly tried. with what measure Of sue
cess it is difficult to say. Nearly allied
to the concnssion method is the at
tempt to chill the atmosphere by the
rapid evaporation Of some highly COM
pressed gas. Then, again, it is assert
ed that the adjustment Of an cleo
4trical connection between a cloud and
the earth by means of a kite will induce
rain to fall. Such a means evidently
#supposes the existence Of a cloud; but
inasmuch as periods Of draught are
liable to be accompanied with a long
continuance Of blue sky, the method
even if successful cannot always be .ap.
piled, and in point of general applica-
ton falls below the level of the other
suggestions. Gond densation is the re-
suit of chilling the al The ascent oi
the lower strata Of the atmosphere IN
to the higher regions and the conse.#
squent expansion and loss Of heat issi
the most probable cause Of rain, and
1T is not imp possible hat The air near
the ground, being made to rise by be-:
ing, artiicially heated mi light tend te
produce the desired d own pour.
Always the Same.
istrate IoW old are you? Wo-
1 ma Thirty. Magistrate hy ifs sI' M