The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-01-22
SOzOD0NT Tooth Powder Csc
Good For Bad Teeth,
NOT Bad For Good Teeth.
HAILsroRMs VERSUS CANNON.
Prof. Moore, of Weather Bureau, Says
storms Cannot he Checked.
Washington Star.

Considerable interest has been aroused
among agriculturists in the United States
relative TO the prevention OF hailstorms by
the use OF explosives fired from specially
designed cannon. The experiments con-
Quoted along this line by grape growers OF
France and Italy have aroused popular in
terest in this country. The theory is not
a new one, though perhaps not so ancient
as the idea that precipitation occurs soon
after and as a result Of the explosives used
in battles. As early as 1863 the Marquis
de CheViers, a retired naval officer or
France, thought that he could combat the
scourge Of hailstorms by the firing OF can
non, but his experiments, like those con-
Quoted by many others at various times
during the past century, were not produc-
tive OF definite results.
One of the most serious drawbacks to
grape culture in Europe is the destruction
caused by hail, and the growers are natur-
ally interested in anything that promises
TO give immunity from such damage. Dur
ing the past two or three years renewed
interest has been taken In the matter by
the yineyardists of certain parts OF France
and Italy. Several manufa cturers have
placed upon the market special form or
cannon which they claim Will effectively
break up hail-bearing clouds. The belief
in the efficacy OF this method or protection
has become quite general I'm Europe, al
though scientists versed in the physics Of
the air have not expressed confidence In
the system.
TO the effectiveness of cannon firing. with
the manufacturers and many grape grow
ers on the one side and the scientists OF
America and Europe on the other. The for
mer maintain that hailstorms can be pre-
vented IN the manner described, while the
latter claim that the force eNerted by the
explosives is infinitesimal as compared 10
the forces of nature that are exerted in hail
formation, and that experiments conducted
by the adherents Of the cannonading pro-
cess themselves have not produced cOnvinc-
ing results.
The number of thunderstorms from which
hail is preciptated is but a small percent
age of the actual number In most localities
of the United States "a whole season some
times passes without fall OF hail while in
seasons of abnormal thunderstorm fire.
quency the number Of hailstOrms is small.
While in the grape growing regions OK
France and Italy there may be greater
hailstorm frequency, IL IS still true that the
number of hailstOrms are few as compared
to the number of thunderstorms without
hail The eXperimenters score a success
whenever they shoot at a thunderstorm
cloud that does not produce hail, although
the chances are greatly In favor OF there
being no hail In the cloud. Again, they eX-
cuse the occurrences of hail IN spite Of
bombardment by saying that the cannon
was not large enough or the powder charge
sufficiently heavy, and declare that the
hailstOrm was far less severe than IL would
otherwise have been. How is one either TO
prove or disprove such statements?"
After examining all that has been pub
lished during the past two years on the
subject of hail prevention have 10 repeat
the opinion heretofore expressed that we
have here to deal with a popular delusion.
and that efforts should be made TO pre-
vent it's spread in this country The great
processes going on in the atmosphere are
conducted on too large scale for any
man or any nation 10 attempt to control
them. According 20 Professor Able, the
energy extended by nature in the prOduc-
ton of a hailstorm, tornado or a rain
storm probably exceeds the combined en-
ergy Of all the steam engines and explosives
in the world 1t Is useless for man 10 at
tempt to combat nature on this scale.