The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-15
HAIL CANNON IN SWITZERLAND.
Interest in the Erection of BombHrd-
ing STATIONS.

interest in the Erection of lombard
ing stations.
The Stat" Department has been advised
hy Henry IT. Morgan. the United states
Consul at Aarau Switzerland. that con-
siderable interest is being taken there
looking toward the erection of lombard
ing stations i'm certain parts of that eoun-
Try Tor the pre-ention of the destructive
hJilstorms which at times have devastgt-
ed entire districts.
The Government in the first instance
the Consul says appointed Colonel sta
mel and Mr.. Girsberger 90 proceed 10 Italy
and Syria ITO study the question and
see what results have been achieved in
those countries. where bUmbaTding sta
tons have for some time been in opera
ton. These gentlemen have made a long
and detailed report TO the Government
recommending the adoption Of the Sys-
TENS in practice and from the report the
following has been extracted:
" 1t is only within the last year that
hail guns and protection against hail by
cauuonadiuE the dangerous clouds have
become a topic Of general discussion. To
day the question is one of the greatest
and most intense interest FOR all who are
in any way connected with agriculture
and horticuIture@and for the Governments
which have 10 protect these most import
ant branches of human industry, cspe-
ciaIly in those countries which are. more
than others. exposed TO hailstoTms.
% The classical land OF hail shooting is
Syria. The vine growers there suffered
so frequently and disastroUsly from hail
storms that they We're forced 10 devise all
sorts Of means of protection: wires were
stretched over the vineyards. and when
danger was anticipated. these were COW
cred with cloth, planks. ctc.-weaTisome
work, indeed Ordinarily small mortar
guns We're occasionally fired against the
clouds In order To dispel them Burgo-
master Stieger. Of Windisch-Feistriz. in
Syria, took up the matter in a thorough
and successful way and is today acknowI-
edged by all those interested in hail
shooting 90 be the originator and master
Of shooting as a means Of protection
against hailstorms.
% from Styria hail shooting spread over
Hungary and nor'h ern Italy. where at the
present time more than ten thousand
shooting stations are established 1t ap-
pears that warm, marshy countries with
broad rivers snow the greatest interest IN
the means Of protection against hail
storms which may lead to the conclusion
that such countries are more than others
subject TO hail This. again. confirms the
experience that warm layers Of air sat
urated with moisture. rising from damp,
low countries. viii turn into dangerous
hail clouds when they meet cold air cur
rent in the higher regions of atmosphere.
" A weli-regulated shooting station con
sIsts Of a little house OF about Az by feet
square, divided into two rooms. of which
the smaller one contains the gun and the
| larger one serves as a loading room. The
principal part Of the gun is a vertical
mortar TO II inches long with a Caiibre
! Of about ~ inches. To the mortar Is at
taChed q cOnical funnel OF a length Of ~
( TO i feet the upper part Of which pro
! Jects from the top Of the house The sup
ply OF EunpoWder ought TO be kept well
scaled I'm tins. divided into charges Of 80
Z 20 $50 grams. and there should be a suf-
/ hcient quantity for fifty shots for each
gun
" The stations are distributed over the
/ danger district, ,ZU TO l.s00 feet apart.
{ Thus, one station viii protect about sixty
two acres one gun more powerful than
/ the others may serve as an alarm gun
I for a whole district. and ought TO be ia
charge OF "A person who has some expert
/ ence Of the signs Of an approaching hail
storm Upon an alarm being given. all
guns In the district should start firing
giving one shot each minute. Quicker
{ firing is said TO be less effective. as the
I shots would not have time 10 take fun
effect
% After firing a shot a white ring will
| be seen rising from the funnel, gradually
J increasing III size 10 the diameter Of nine
/ to twelve feet Its force is sufficient TO
break wood sticks on its way and il il
I hltS al a distance Of 800 feet or more a
X
I out ring leaving the centre and the
/ circumference uuhuTt The effect Of the
air ring shot into the hail clouds Is not
sufficiently explained. but IL disturhs their
natural course Hof-GaugrrDuS devei1prneut.
( A direct proof that hail shooting properly
practlceG VIII under all circumstance pre-
vent hail is Of course impossible 10 fur
/ nlsh. but the fact that certain districts
! Of Styria. which, were before the use OF
hail guns devastated by haiistorns year
/ By year. have not FOR The last i've yea IS
! since The guns are in use experienced any
J hail IS a strong point in favor OF the hail
I guns The question Is important enough
( 10 cause thorough experiments to DE
! made, the more so as the expenses for
| the service Of system Of hail guns Will
] not amount 10 CnC-tenth Of the insurance
! paid at the present time. even il the ne
! Cesslty Of cahUonadlng would arise every
/ year In order 40 meet with success Il
/ Is not only necessary To have good work
: ing ana not TOO Ompliated guns but also
I rigid and w-ll-OTCauizcd service
/ Concluding his report. MT Morgan says.
/ pom this report. commission has
/ been named which will adopt regulations
/ for the service. and to prevent dgsultOry
! private action. IL has been decided TO act
/ as quickly as possible. The regulations in
/ preparation Will propose the forming Of
I societies i'm an the interested districts
( and the guns viii be- distributed SO as
/ 10 determine 10y practical demonstration
/ which system is the most effective