Los Angeles herald., 1905-10-12
HATFIELD ISSUES
Def TO PLUV|US
REFUSES TO EXPERIMENT
GIVES NATURE CHANCE
Rainmaker Says People Generally Be-
lieve Coming Season VIII BE Wet,
and Thus He Would Be
Awarded No Credit

Back to the alfalfa with Death Val
ley Scott and his hair raising speed
contest with e. H. H..rriman.
The real duel to the death Is now on
between Chas. M. Hatfield, rainmaker
emeritus to Los Angeles, and Jupiter
Pluvius.
Hatfield refuses to experiment this
season. He Is going to stay under the
shade of his fathers vine and fig tree
at Inglewood and let ]. Pluvius do his
own rainmaking. If Jupiter p. fails
then may the drouth stricken inhabi-
tants call upon the rain wizard in their
hour of need and perhaps he will listen
to their entreaties.
But the duel is on.
Hatfield says the public generally
believes and predicts that the coming
season will be wet. Hatfield has told
them it will be dry unless he shoots
chemicals into the atmosphere. He has
large subscription list, but he says
he doesn't want the peoples money fol
making rain if old J. Pluv. can do the
stunt by himself. SO 1t is now up to j.
P. He must either come across or for
ever hold his peace.
Expect Wet Season
Hatfield says men who have sub
that the season will probably be wet
anyway. This has angered the weather
chaser Just a little and he will not
plant his tower on the slopes of Mt
Lowe and coax clouds. He will let Mr.
Pluvius. assisted by Weatherman
Franklin, have try. If they fail and
Southern California is in danger of be
ing destroyed by it's own heat, then will
come Hatfields opportunity.
Says Hatfield:
"I find there is a general prevailing
sentiment among the public that the
coming season will be wet. And since
this is the case / do not consider 1t
policy to operate my system this winter
for the reasons that should eighteen
inches of rain fall, many would say
that it would have come irrespective
of any artificial assistance.
Furthermore, 1 do not wish to lay
claim to any results that 1 am not in
strumental in producing and after care
full consideration 1 have resolved to
abandon my system for the present
will hold myself in readiness at a mo-
ment's notice and will respond imme-
diately to any call in Southern Califor-
mia.
SHOULD this section be stricken with
drouth 1 will go forth and prove that
rainfall will follow my demonstrations
and that droughts can be broken. All
necessary material has been imported
and secured to conduct the demonstra-
tions. Had 1 went out 1 guaranteed q
repetition of last seasons rainfall and
was to be reasonably rewarded If Sue
cessful. 1 have been very fortunate In
obtaining subscriptions among the
business men, merchants, ranchers
and citizens OF Southern California
but all who have so contributed 1 will
return them their subscriptions and see
what the results will be in natural
way.
"There is nothing that will have such
depreciating effect upon realty val
ues and general business as scant
rainfall. Today we are prospering from
the effects of last seasons heavy pre-
cipitation, but let us have a drought
| this year and 1t will be a serious handi-
cap to our prosperity for the coming
| year.
Satisfied as I am that the masses
of the people are of the opinion that a
wet season is to follow, it would be
folly for me to conduct my demonstra-
| ton throughout the winter, for should
ever so large a rainfall occur little or
no credit would be accorded to me.
my business is that of breaking
droughts and dry spells and to induce
rainfall at times when needed. 1t is
not to go forth and lay claim to that
which might occur in a natural way.
wish to lay no claim to any precipita-
| ton that 1 have not been instrumental
| in inducing"