Arizona republican., 1904-08-10
AN UNAccEPrED OFFER
Mesa Rainmaker Fails to Come to
 E Terms With Canal Companies.

A. J. Williams, the Mesa rainmaker, was in Phoenix yesterday doing bus.- ness with the canal companies. He had a conference with Manager CIeary and made preliminary arransements looking to a contract whel eby the ca nals are to be furnished with an abun- dant supply of water through rains at regular intervals,
 He called at the canal offices he an nounced to MT. Cleary. because he had read in the Republican that the A1i- zona Water company, which controls the canal companies operating on the north side of the ri> CT, was prepared to pay $20,000 a year for regular and sufficient rains, and in a business-like manner he proceeded to impart the in formation that he stood ready to eneer Into a contract. MT. Cleary responded that the visit took him somewhat by surprise, and possibly he had been mis- quoted. Still. he was willing to learn about MT. Williams method of mak- ing the rain come whenever wanted.
 MT. Williams explained that he be- gan to give the subject earnest study two years ago. He had been scoffer at Christian Science. but had been forced by incentrovertible evidence to eonoede that there was a vast amount of truth in the derided science. It was after he had been made to see the truth that a Christian scientist had suggested to him that he ought to be able to make it rain. Thereafter he pursued the subject with thought. He explained that his method is based on the operation of mer;al science, which, after all, he said. was closely related to Christian science. He had demon strated to his own satisfaction several months ago that he could force the rains to fell
 Asked by MT. Cleary why he had per mitted the drouth, recently broken, to continue so long, he said that it was because of the Mesa scorfers. The Mesa people called him crazy, he said, and absolutely refused 10 pay him for a rain. He broadly intimated that his system was double-acting. and that he had caused the drouth in order to teach some people a lesson. However, in fairness to MT. Williams 1t should be understood that ne will not openly assume responsibility for the drouth, hence no actions for damages will hold
 Getting dos'n to business, he said he had caused the recent rains, and was ready to contract for, say, one rain a week for year. The published fig ures, $20000. were satisfactory to him, and to show his faith in his powers, he asked nothing in advance, and would wait for payment until the end of the year agreed upon. All that he was seeking was a contract with re- sponsible parties. He offered to begin work at once under the contract. To this Mir. Cleary made slight ob- lection He pointed out that the air was full of moisture already. while heavy rain clouds were overhanging the mountains to the northeast, and were a rain to be caused within the next three or four days, it would be difficult to fix the responsibility. Ac- cordingly, he sugges. ed that MT. Will Hams wait until the humidity had cleared away and until the sky was absolutely clear. and they had a pre- diction of fair weather from the weather bureau. when fsir test could be made. To this MT. Williams read fly agreed. Meanwhile. Mr. Cleary pointed out the contract asked for was of such novel nature that there were
 
 wished to have a few days in which to formulate the document. Mir. Williams assented to the rcasona bleness of this suggestion. also. It will depend upon the weather. therefore. just how soon the valley is to have a rain which can be traced directly to MT. Williams ef- forts. Usually it takes about three days. he said. to bring good results, and even then h. could not always guarantee the quantity of precipita- ton. The downfall might range all the way from a refreshing shower to an old-fashioned clod-buster.
 In speaking of the conference last evening. NIT. Cleary stated that he was much impressed with MT. Williams quiet and earnest demeanor. The rain maker is a rather spare man, about five feet. ten inches tall, and weigh ing about 150 pounds, He is slightly bald. and wears a modest locking moustache and has mild. blue eyes.