The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-03-19
will cause rain. owing to the dry
moss of tho a t-1oSnhere NV eXuo-

y will cause rain. owing to the dry
Il ness of the atmosphere. My expo
rience in the lquefaction of gases and
atmosphere for the manufacture of
ice and refrigeration Immediately fol-
lowing the war in a field then unknown
and untrodden gave me much opportunity
for experiments in atmosphere ladened
with moisture It was then by artificial
means that I refrigerated the first steam
ship in New York harbor, the William Ia
ber for transporting meats. The largest
room was % feet by % feet by 8 feet be-
tween decks. When the atmosphere was
reduced far below the freezing point the
outside moisture laden air when admitted
produced snow and hail; at a higher tenn
perature rain was produced. BY revers-
ing this process and discharging large vol
tunes of liquid air or gases running from
100 degrees TO 800 degrees below zero at
sufficiently high altitude, the moisture of
the air would first form into snow and
hail and as it descended to the lower at
mosphere would turn TO rain, all the time
accommodating moisture, until it reached
the earth. This in conjunction with other
means ! would employ, ] believe, where
the atmospheric conditions are right. as
they often are, extensive rainfalls could
be secured.
''In this locality the conditions have been
favorable for rain fully half a dozen times
during the last six weeks when a little
disturbance of the right kind at the
proper times would cause precipitation,
which would spread, and once started rain
would beget rain.
II have long noticed that when we have
a dry winter here the East is at
flicted with heavy rain and snowstorms.
and this winter l think shows another
good example sustaining this theory. The
rain that should have fallen here and
accomplished much good has passed over
and wrought a corresponding amount of
damage in the East.
''It is not necessary to burn gunpowder
to produce rain. Cheaper gases can be
made to produce better results.
81 have no faith in producing rain by
explosions, especially in mountains. All
gases to produce rain should be liberated
over a great depth of atmosphere when
the same is laden with moisture and near
the point of precipitation.
In reply to numerous adverse criticisms
Professor Lowe says that q notable in
stance of artificial rain was the battle of
Buena Vista, which was fought in the
midst of the dry season in Mexico and
there had been no rain for many
months before the battle. The occur
rences upon the second day at Buena Wis
ia. as stated by Brevet Major General
H w Benham of the United States En-
sineer Corps were: From TO in the
morning of that day the artillery was en-
gagged in heavy cannonading, after which
between II and u o'clock a most violent
shower of rain fell.
''And what was positive proof to me
that these rains were the direct result of
the artillery firing" writes General Ben
ham, was that no rain had fallen, 1
was informed. for number of months
before this battle-I was told eight
months; and none fell for three months
after the battle, which 1 knew was the
case, as l remained at the same station
during that time.
1.-THE battles of Palo Alto Molino del
Rey. Cherubusco. Monterey and Chapul-
tepec were also fought in the dry season,
and each was followed by heavy rains
.rIn August, 1891, by the aid of a small
Government appropriation, experiments in
a crude and limited way were made in
Texas and copious showers were pro-
duced at each trial, although the atnos-
pheric conditions were most unfavorable,
the weather bureau hygrometer showing
a relative humidity of only Is out OF a
possible 100. Here along the Pacific coast