The Washington times., 1901-11-04
HAILsToRMs NOT PREVENTED
willis L. Moore Dfscredits Experf-
nients I'm ItaIy nnn Ernnce

| clouds suspected OF hailstorru Qualities
with explosives discharged from specially
! designed cannon, has been prepared by
| Willis l.. Moore, Ac.irg Secretary Of Ag-
riculture. Mr.. Moore discred.ts the re-
| ports Of effective results. and states that
scientists both in this country and abroad
are united In disbelief Of the value of
the experiments. Mr. Moore SAYS:
considerable interest has been aroused
among agreuiturists in the United States
relative to the prevention of haifstorms bv
the use OF explosives fired from specially
designed cannon. The experiments con-
dueted along this line hy grape growers
| of France and Italy have aroused popular
| interest in this country.
| The theory is not new one, though
perhaps not SO ancient as the idea that
precipitation occurs soon after and as
| result Of the explosives used in battles.
As early as 1859 the Marquis de Cheviers.
retired naval officer of France, thought
that he could combat the scourge OF hall
storms by the firing of cannon. but his
experiments. like those conducted oy
many others at various times during the
past century, were not productive Of defin-
ite results
One of the most serious drawbacks to
grape culture in Europe is the destruction
caused by hail, and the growers are nat
uraily interested in anything that prom
ises to give immunity from such damage.
During the past two or three years re-
newed interest has been taken in the mat
ter by the vineyardists of certain parts
of France and Italy. Several manufac-
turers have placed upon the market a
special form of cannon which they claim
VIII effectively break up hail-bearing
clouds. The belief in the efficacy Of this
method of protection has become quite
genera! in Europe. although scientists
versed in the physics of the air have not
expressed confidence in the system
In brief. the apparatus in use consists
OF cannon fitted with funnel-shaped
conical extension. The difference between
the various forms OF cannon that are
used lies mainly in the shape and size of
the funnel extensions. and the size OF
the powder charges. Usually the cannon
is fired vertically upward, although in
some instances the apparatus is inclined
toward an advancing cloud The effect
Of the funnel attachment is to cause the
of a mass of rapidly revolving
tir. or vortex, which leaves the mouth of
he cannon with tremendous velocity. In
shape these yortices can be likened some
what to the rings or puffs Of smoke
made by a person smoking cigar.
1T IS claimed that these whirIing mass
IS of air. intermixed with gases from the
explosives, are forced upward to a suf-
icient hS sht to enter the hail cloud and
iestroy the hail-forming processes of the
loud. II it is granted that these rings
.scend 70 sufficient height to enter the
loud, which / doubt, am of the opinion
hat the force of the ring is too puny
o have any effect on the cloud
Many experiments have been made for
The purpose of ascertaining the actual
height to which these air rings rise be-
-ore being dissipated. In a report by
profs. J. M. Pernter and W. Ira
bert, who. at the Invitation of the Imper-
al Department of Agriculture of Austria,
md of the inventor Of one of the methods.
made as complete an investigation as was
possible and under various conditions.
These scientists saated that they were not
ble to report anything positive as to the
'alue of hail shooting. They reported
nat, using the largest cannon and the
ieaYiest charges, the vortices did not Ak
end TO height of 1000 feet, on an aver
se although in some instances greater
istances were obtained.
The number of thunderstorms from
'hich hall Is precipitated is but small
er cent of the actual number of thtln-
erstorms. n most localities of the United
tateS whole season sometimes passes
.lthout fall of hail, while in season of
bnormal thunderstorm frequency the
urnner OF hailstorms is small While in
Ne grape-growing regions of France and
tsiy there may be greater hailstOrrn fire.
uehcy, 1t is still true that the number
hallStorms are Few as compared to the
lumber Of thunderstorms without hail
But there are reasons for believing
lat the use Of cannon and explosives in
reyenting hailstorms is not effective.
lr Suger. one of the inventors of the
pparatus In use. claims that hail is
lrmed in quiet spots in the atmosphere.
mere atmospheric moisture crystaIlizes
ot in large crystals IN a manner anala-
ous TO the formation of large crystals
salt in liquid solution. But this is a
loLsh notion There are no such quiet
pots in the atmosphere, and hailstones
re not crystals, but masses of ice with
NY partial crystalline structure
ven the perfect crystals of the snow
axe are formed in the midst of rapidly
owing air.
'Hailstorms are generally very local
I'd cratic Some have maintained
lat they are controlled by the hills, or
IL contour OF the ground, or by the
-esence of forests and lakes. This may
: true to certain degree, but practical
the whole question Is one of ascending
Id descending currents that characterize
hiriwinds and thunderstorns
Several thousand shooting stations
we been established in Italy and France
ring the past two years. But reports
ceived from them give no definite data
support of the success of the expert
ents. although there Is no doubt that
e cannonading is believed to be effectual
the farmers who do the work. Waves OF
ttational enthusiasm sometimes sweep
er community. only to be regretted
subsequent years, when calmer tudg-
mt has come to prevail. We have only
remember the experience of our own
untry only a few years ago with the
in-makers. and how firm was the be-
of thousands of people in the sub-arid
d arid regions of the West that the
e of powerful explosives would produce
infal. Thousands of dollars were ex-
nded in these experiments before the
surditv cf the claim was demonstrated.
is fact worthy of remark that the
il-shoOters are now using practically
2 same methods to dissipate the clouds
1T the rain-makers used TO produce
IN.
After examining all that has been pub
isd during the past two years on the
,ject of hail prevention, l have to re-
[ the opinion heretofore expressed
/ we have here to do with a popuIar
1sion. and that efforts should be made
prevent its spread in this country. The
at processes going on in the atmosphere
conducted on too large a scale for any
n or any nation to attempt to control
m. The energy expended by nature in
production of a hailstorm a tornado
a rainStorm, probably exceeds the
lbined energy of all the steam engines
explosives In the world. It is useless
man to attempt to combat nature on
scale"
Less Kind Than Spain.
(From the Chicago Chroniele)
he Porto Ricans have as good an op-
tunity to sell their coffee here or any
ere in Europe except Spain as they