The Marion daily mirror. (Marion, Ohio) 1892-1912, 1908-05-16
WARFARE AGAINST THE cLouoa
Scientific Methods Adopted In Eu-
rope for DIvertIrg Storms.

In Europe 1t has became almost
commonplace occurrence to shoot, A.
the clouds with cannon or specially
constructed apparatus to dispel threat
ened hailstorms. In almost every
country on the Continent where aerf-
culture forms the mainstay OF the peo-
pie there is a systematic use OF these
storm destroyers. In many parts OF
France, Italy, Germany and Austria
the custom has grown 30 extensively
that It often forms part of an oficial
department OF the municipality. In
such cases, with the assistance OF the
neighboring land owners and farmers
thorough systems have been Devised,
till the elements have become 30 har-
messed that It is almost impossible for
them to inflict any injury on the
crops.
Public interest in the subject has
become so aroused that the leading
agricultural societies have taken up
the idea, with view to contributing
to the means already employed the re-
suits of their minute Investigations. In
Vienna a congress of the members OF
the Meteorological Institute was called
at which the various methods OF cloud
shooting were discussed and many ex-
periments we're inspired, which cannot
fail to be Of great benefit to the raw
ages or hailstorms.
Judging from the reports of the
congress the idea of averting storm
by means of cannon shot is not a new
one in Austria. II was first introduced
during the reign Of Empress Maria
Theresa, who issued decree prohibit
ing the use OF cannon by the peasantry
shortly after adoption of the practice.
In time the decree was revoked, and
In 1896 the method was again intro
duced into Austria, q new weapon be-
ing substituted in place OF the cannon.
| This consisted of funnel shaped bar
rel of iron with a broad muzzle. The
! idea of the broad muzzle was to dis
| tribute the discharge over greater
| space and thus increase the effect. SO
successful was this experiment that in
| 1897 the municipality In which this
weapon was first used had no less than
80 shooting stations. Since then there
have been no hailstorms ip that local.
| ity. Asf<
| Cloud shooting has nowhere be-
come more generally used than in the
| vicinity of Venice. in Lombardy. and
Piedmont. These districts formerly
suffered greatly from the destructive
ness Of hailstorms. During the sun,-
mer of 1900 there were at least two
thousand stations built on the plan Of
1 those constructed in Austria. At a con-
gress held not long ago In Casale Mon
ferrato 1t was found that In numerous
localities where shooting stations had
not been introduced hailstorms were
Of frequent occurrence, causing great
damage to crops and property. while
the districts provided with artificial
means were entirely free from loss
from such causes. ~ IN f..
Herr Stiger, the originator Of the
present method, gave some interesting
facts regarding his experiments with
the cloud shooting cannon. He be-
gan his experiments with the funda-
mental principle of disturbing the In
tense stiffness which prevails before a
hailstorm. In view of the established
fact that there is no physical reason
why sound waves should exercise an
effect on the formation of hail, Stiger
determined that 1t would be necessary
to confine his operations to creating
the form of whirlwind. An oficial
trial demonstrated the fact that after
the firing of shot small whirlwind
arises, easily perceptibl6 In the reflect
ed sunshine This whirlwind ascends
with piercing whistle. the sound last
ing for fifteen seconds in day time and
twenty seconds at night, During this
experiment 1t was noticed that swal-
low which few within the radius of
one of these whirlwinds instantly
dropped dead. It had the appearance,
upon examination, of having been shot.
Stiger laid great stress upon the me-
chanical energy produced by the wind
thus created. but this idea found few
supporters till the Congress In Casals,
Italy. A professor Roberts reported
that at a distance OF two hundred feet
the wind had destroyed strong di-
aphragm. Thereafter several expert
| mems at 81 Catherine demonstrateu
that the whirlwind was the mlin u no,
the sole agent In diverting hail.
Some careful experiments were car
ried on In Austria which are OF great
interest. The experts who attended
the exhibition could plainly see the
wind rise from the mouth OF the fun
nes with lightning rapidity, possessing
all the aspects of shot. When large
cannon were used whistling could be
, heard from twenty to tW snty-eight
, , seconds The most marked Q. ects were
produced by horizontal shoD, For the
experiments. shields built Of thick pa
; per and linen were placed at intervals
of 40, 60. so, and 100 yards from the
; mouth of the cannon. When the cir
: Gle of wind enfolded these shields they
were torn from the frames. the solid
posts and frame work snapped In two
and were cast from IS to 20 yards
while large mastiff, standing near
was lifted in the air and after tumip 1
several somersaults was hurled