Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1907-08-05
RAINMAKING
HIS PROFESSION
California Scientist Takes
Contracts and GUAR
anteeS Results

generally adopted Therefore Charlie!
NJ. Hatfield, who arrived in Portland
recently is a person, says the Tele-
gram, is a person to whose vocation
little interest attaches. Mr. Hatfield
is known as the "Rainmaker." Others
have experimental along the same line
but so far as is known, Mr.. Hatfield
is the only man in the United States
who is following this as his lifework
and the success he is said to have met
with has attracted the attention OF
scientists in all parts of the country.
Mr.. Hatfield has just returned from
eastern oregon, where he has, been
conducting experiments during the past
two months. The tests were made al
Gordon's Ridge. three miles northwest
of Moro, the highest elevation in Sher-
man county. During June and July
Mr.. Hatfield sent continuous series of
electrical vibrations into space from
two tail towers that contained his APP
paratus, and during that time not only
Sherman county. but also Gillian coun-
ty, adjoining. were favored with heavy
rains
Whether this almost unprecedented
rainfall was a direct consequence of
the experiments there no way of
+ telling, but that the residents of east
ern Oregon believe 1t was is indicated
by the fact that they have engaged
Mr.. Hatfield to return next year and
.conHnue his good work.
o.. E..m
The contracts of Mr.. Hatfield with
the farmers in Sherman county began
May 20 and ended July 26. He went
there with the understanding that the
average rainfall for the period cover
ed was rs inches. and on this basis
promised the farmers that he would
give them six inches of rain. When
he arrived at Moro, however, he found
that the average precipitation for these
two months was only so of an inch.
Therefore he told the farmers that he
would have to withdraw from his con-
tract. They told him to go ahead and
do the best he could. There was 30
inches of rain during the two months,
or an increase of ESQ per cent over
the average, ue
Mr.. Hatfield is young man and has
been carrying on his experiments dur
ing the past five years. There is moth
ing mysterious about his work, he
says. 1t is merely a practical applica-
ton of scientific principles, he con-
tends. There are no weird lamentations
and he does not call the moisture from
the sky by invoking any superhuman
aid. 1t is merely the use of artificial
means to produce the natural condi-
lions that will precipitate the mo ,sture
in the air, he says.
The "Rainmaker' is resident of Los
Angeles and his first experiments were
conducted in California, He began in
a small way, he says. by condensing the
fogs, from which he produced rain
Afterwards he began working on a
larger scale and carried on his tests in
semi-arid regions. He has no way of
putting moisture into the tir, and he
prefers to operate where the rainfall
) is very light for under those conditions
the results of his work are obviously
convincing. 4#6s&
First Tests in 1902.
my first tests were made in San
Diego county, California, five years
ago" said Mr.. Hatfield. Il soon became
convinced to my own satisfaction that
! had discovered a way of causing
rain, and 1 received many requests to
visit arid regians to carry on my eX-
periments. My first real businesslike
contract was with the city of Los An
,geles three years ago. There had beer
a severe drouth and l contracted tc
give them Is inches of rain between
December Is and May /, When the
time had expired there had Been 1875:
inches.
II was asked to remain at Los An
geles another year, but decided to 90
to crows Landing in the San Joaquin
valley This is the most arid place II
California, with the exception OF the
deserts, yet 1 gave them IL inches o
rain the first year and 1921 the sec
/ ond, I am going there again this win
ter and expect to do even better"
AS to his SYSTEM, Mr.. Hatfield will
say little, except that with chemical
and a dynamo he causes electrical
waves in the atmosphere that result II
rainfall. He believes that the effec
of his experiments can be felt withil
a radius of rs miles from his towers
The rainfall in Sherman county thi
year was the second heaviest eve
Sxnown there, and that in Gillian wa
the heaviest" said Mr.. Hatfield in dis
Guessing his work in Oregon. Il ha
only two towers erected. but next yea
am going to have four. l have select
ed another location on the bank OF tn
Deschutes river. short distance fror
where I was this year"
Not Profitable as Yet.
Mr.. Hatfield says that he has neve
made any money out of his expert
-.,ov4~ end dnes not expect to so Ion