RAIN-MAKING EXPERIMENTS.

North Otago Times, Volume XXXV, Issue 7265, 13 October 1891, Page 3

RAIN-MAKING EXPERIMENTS.

A Midland (Texas) telegram to Dalziel §ays : " General Dyrenforth and the rainmakers are jubilant. The first important experiments have been a great success. Run was made to fall on Tuesday from a sky which when they begau was cloudless, and from which no farmer would have looked for rain inside of a week, and they claim that the rain was undoubtedly caused by iheir explosion of oxyhydrogen balloons, rackarock, powder, and dynamite. At 3 o'clock on Tuesday afternoon a large balloon ascended from C. Ranch, where the scientists had their headquarters, about 25 miles from Midland. The balloon was sent up about a mile and quarter and then exploded, the report sounding like a stunning thunderclap. The sun at this time was shining brightly, the sky was blue, and there was only a few small clouds to be seen. The weather instrument showed the air to be remarkably dry, and the barometer indicated fair weather. Ten minutes after the explosion, a string of kites were set flying, and when high in the air the dynamite attached to their trils was expl >ded. Then largo quantities of bltsting powder were scattered on the ground over a space of two miles square, and exploded by electricity. The noise was like the firing of successive batteries of artillery. The smoke arose to a height of 200ft, and was soon afterwards beaten down by torrents of niii. The sky had quickly become overcast, the barometer began frilling ten minutes after the balloon explosion, and the rain was heavy, the storm centre being over C Ranch. Ranchmen and employees along the line of the Texas Pacific report that the storm extended over the area of 1000 miles. The explosions were heard plainly at Midland, and on ranches 40 miles away people heard them and supposed them to be thunder. More elaborate experiments will take place, tho ranchmen and townspeople being sceptical aa to the c*use of Tuesday's rain ; but General Dyreuforth says he will convince everybody within a week."