Arizona republican., 1904-08-03
F.-P. TROTT HALF MORMON
Mesa Man Who Is Hiding Out With a
 $2O,OOO Cinch.

It will be news to some people to learn that the recent rains were not of the grace of a beneficent providence nor by the prayers of the just. as has been heretofore suggested, but were the handiwOrk of a Mesa City man who for two long and strenuous years has been engaged in solving the rain question in a scientific manner Just how the trick was done. only the rain maker himself can explain and he won { do it: that is he says he won't till he gets his price. The terms he names are reasonable enough, too, but so far he has not attempted negotiations with the right parties. The story must be authentic, for he told it himself. appar- ently in all sincerity, and to no less re- liable individual than Water Commits siOner Frank P TrOtt
 MT. Trott was at the Santa Fe de- pot Monday afternoon, like hundreds of others, just 6o see the trains pass through. when some one at his elbow said, MT. Trott you have plenty of water now. haven't you?" MT. Trott turned and recognizing the speaker as a Mesa man by the name of Williams, but whose initials he did not know, +e- piled that there was now a good head of water in the river and had been for several days.
 Then MT. Williams, speaking very so- berly and earnestly, Confided a secret to him. He told him that he had brought these summer rains; that he he'd been studying along scientific lines fer over two years and that lie had solved the rain question. He said he could make it rain whenever he want ed to. wherever he wanted to- and in whatever quantity he desired. He said he had laid his plans before the Mor- mon ditch owners in Mesa City and had offered to furnish them all the rain they need if they would guarantee him an annual royalty of four dollars for each water right in use in thei:' canals. He would not ask for the mon ey either. until he had delivered the goods. But the Mesa people turned him down cold and refused to place any confidence in his capabilities. hence the drouth. But when it got dry enough to make q real good experiment he decided to wet the valley up once on his own account, just to test his methods. And ne did it.
 He says the building of the TOnto dam would be unnecessary if his meth Ods were adopted.
 MT. TIott congratulated him and told him that if all he had said was so. he was certainly a savior for this valley. Mir. Williams, though, noted the eff in MT Trott's rejoinder. and it seem- ingly offended him. As a further pur- suance of the subject a { that time would have been profitless, NJ. Trctt started to move around the corner of dhe depot, when Mir Williams called after him, That's the way they all do. just walk away and leave me. I believe. you are more than half Mormon yourself"
 Mir Williams seemed to be entirely in earnest in his conversation and rec ognizing the value Of such a rainmaker to this valley. d reporter for the Re publican related the incident to Cen eral Manager Cleary of the Arizona Water Co.,. thinking that if the Meea people did not want to avail themselves of this means of salvation, it might at leasa be utilized on the north side. Mir CIeary said that if Mir. Williams would make the proposition to him he would guarantee him an annual salary of S2O, 1000, to be paid in gold coin immedi- ately on performance Of contract. Il Is now up to MT. Williams.