Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-04-02
FORCE FOG TO EARTH
TIN, SCIENTISTS OF AMERICA Ar-
prALEp TO By cAEIFoRNIh
HERBERT EARLSCLlPFES EXPERIMENT
Has rSced That the Fog "a"
brought Down, But Cannon &c"
How 60 Make Practical Use Oh '"e
Discovery.

NOOffCSDonNtiNt 90 49,
SANTA BARBARA. CAI' M"Ieh -
4 How can We Utilize ne IMMENSE amount
Il OF moisture thai hangs tantahzinSly be-
s,s,o,, So, erd eartn while the ground
"A ie ,,rcpos ana cracMng2 how can our
$50 .ords be- wategCo, and one blade OF
lH -. g. ..5e 10 grow where none grows
W -. t, f,rcing the Jog 10 descend 10 the
81 49, 'a The shape OK rain2 ! Here Is a
e .nbtl-t Tor the ingenuity OF every man
4, .n inventive turn OF mind In the United
$500 win Tine promise OF an ample re-
* s,i for the scientist solving the problem
most countries where fOgs are preva-
ent iA,ro BE- a sufficient or an excessive
ginfaA hence scientific minds have
solgat rather 90 prevent or dlssipate
Il tnau 90 utilize them. Consequently, the
4 peculiar conditions here are not generally
4 known 10 those elsewhere Of scientific
4 OF practical attachments who might solve
the problem Of securing the moisture so
tantaiizing.y near US.
The solution TO be OF service. must be
inexpensive and capable OF being used on
large scale. a number of methods sug-
gcst themselves as possibiities-by deto-
aauon. by chemical, by liberating gases.
n5 mechanical means, on. 90 indulge In a
4 hght OF fancy, by music. Paginini said
he could shake the Alps with his violin
could he bat discover their key: SO. TOO.
m.ght the fog particles be set vibrating
untl precipitation followed. But the sub
,ect is 100 diaphanOus in itself 70 indulge
u persfage.
Ny personal experiments have been
limited TO the mechanical methods. It IS,
OF course. Wen known that certain sur
faces exposed 10 fog become "wotter
than others. ana by various tests 1 OBJ
( served that the fog moisture IS preclpi-
tated upon painted canvas TO q greater
extent than any other economical nom
chemical surface. From paintcu canvas
10 sans on a windmill was OUT an easy
and natural step and with O toial surface
Of but ten feet square j was able Tor
several NIGHTS 10 secure an apprcciable |
supply Of water. but was hampered by
not having suitable power 10 revolve my
tsall. wind ana fog seldom acting to- |
tgethor.
a J next experimental with a small screen |
Tor painted canvas, having Stats set OBJ |
lqucly at the bottom to conduct the drip |
pings 10 the root Of the tree. / found that |
10y this means l was enabled 10 collect q |
quantity Of moisture. ana was well |
pleased with the result. But how l could |
make this Of practical value In watering |
grain or grass j could not see. and have |
pot yet discovered l wish TO tell scien-
FISTS what / have accomplished so
tal with the hope that some one will |
come forward with a suggestion that will |
enable US 10 make Southern California
an empire in itself-possible OF cultiva-
lion throughout its entire area instead of
IA but a small portion.
Ia California there are vast areas of
valuable land where the water supply is
insufficient Nature has endeavored TO
correct this by sending in heavy foes
laden with moisture, and IL only remains
for the ingenuity OF man TO utilize this
These fogs generally come in from the
ocean during the dry summer season.
when most needed. but are dlssipated
oarly in the morning by the sun. Here
Is ample moisture brought 10 our very
doors If we could but discover some
simple and practical method of condens-
Ing or precipitating IL on a large scale
Possibly the lquihed air now being
may help US out by its enOr-
nous expansive and refrigerating powers |
u IL is possible that a revolving fan might
BIO used 10 force the fog over "a suitable
surface with good results.
] am not an Edison. / simply wish 20
make known O. great want. Help US 10 c
make millions OF bushels OF grain grow
where none grows now.
HERBERT EARLSCLIFFE.