The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1901-03-28
THEY ARE NOT DIscoURAeED.
Rain-Makers Still Studying Cloud and
Storm formations

So much ridicule met their efforts and
so obstinate a public incredulity that the
''rain-makers" of this section long ago
ceased efforts 10 induce precipitation. But
nevertheless experiments are constantly
carried or to determine empirically the
effect of chemicals on clouds. the hope
being that there may be established a
rudimentary set Of fixed principles Of
chemical action on rain vapors. For the
rain-makers who stirred up so much com
ment years ago no longer seek to induce
precipitation except in q tentative man
ner, but are content 10 watch merely for
results Of discharges of gas in the sky.
1t is interesting to know that while
they have given up the claim Of ability
to induce precipitation. they are as deter
mined as ever that they do have partial
control Of cloud conditions. and their ex-
perments are being conduced with the
hope that some great scientist whose rep
utaUon win save him from the initial
and crushing guhaw of disbelief, win be
induced 70 try similar experiments and
announce to the world that a discharge Of
gas into cloud formation Will affect it.
and the further hope that having gone
so far the scientist may strike upon q
manner of negotiating cloud conditions
to the point Of precipitation All the old
mystery nonsense has ben discarded. Ia
fact, a disbelieving public made II so un-
comfortable for the rain-makers that
even now experimenters VIII ask that
their names be withheld.
But they are working notwithstanding.
using chemical gasses on the clouds and
using the camera as q witness OF condi-
tons which recur with sufficient regular
ity and at times Of experiments to induce
the belief that the chemicals do have
an effect on the clouds
A series OF five photographs taken re-
Gently here show an experiment in dis
sipati0n. st Z clock in the afternoon
tho sky was entirely covered with heavy
clouds. Gas was released, anu in twenty
minutes the clouds directly above had
CHANGED materially and were beginning
10 move away Ten minutes later am
other drawing was made showing that
the heavy clouds bad disappeared. form
Ing clear. central space with light.
feecy clouds through the center Ton
minutes later another drawing was made
showing the sky three-fourths clear. The
fifth drawing was made eight minutes
later and showed an entirely clear cen
Ter. estimated I'm diameter forty miles.
This experiment has been tried again
and again with a success which grounds
the expenmenters in the belief that the
gas was the agent which accomplished
it, The eVperimenters themselves. how
ever realize that until an Acknowledged
scientist puts forth the idea tie general
claim that the clouds would have cleared
away anyway VIII be given credenee.
while any other claim VIII De laughed all
The next step with the experimeate-s
has been the study ~ the formation of
a rain storm in the general movement
Of the clouds. They claim that rain
storms ID this section have q regular
method Of formation. They set forth
that a rain storm IS ordinarily three az
four DAYS ~ forming 90 tie point ~ pre-
cipitauon. that tne clouds r1rsae cir-
culsr course, completing first cire
and then crossing through the center.
and continuing again aa9 again rntl Che
center s. filled with clouds and rrecifita-
ton results.
Whether OF not f. rav pc ever 70se'tie
20 indIce rain artlfel7r. tie drawing
ana photographs % cloud cordtan5
tris section are interesting ard ert
number have been ra16- Showing cr-
sran-ly recgrrlns cieea ferratiors. VIZ
come II given aed - uetla
tha- hardy ADMITS - raaea 81
the physical
claimed ttar Paving
through center t
storm -ea-er ahh ea te
er tm 8
f.e ri rter