Rensselaer Republican, Volume 23, Number 44, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 July 1891 — CAN MAKE RAIN. [ARTICLE]

CAN MAKE RAIN.

Another Crank Turned Loose at i Canton, Ohio. ’ In Amtralisn Claims to plave Invented a Macmne That Will Produce Rain at the Operator’s Pleasure. An Australian living at Canton, Ohio, . claims to have perfected a machine whereby he can induce rainfall whenever hedesires to. He claims credit for having caused an immense rain recently. The dispatch further says: He has been hero over a month, and a strange coincidence is , that ever since he has pretended to conduct his experiments heavy rain has fallen on an average of once a day. The rains have been accompanied by severe electrical disturbances, and much damage boa been done and several fatal cases have been reported in this vicinity. Mr. Melbourne not only states that he brought the storm, but that if be had shut off his machine one day earlier the disaster would not have happened. He claims that shortly after his arrival here the weather bureau at Kansas City telegraphed Washington that crops were dying for want of ratn. Two days after ho says he brought rain in Kansas. That was on May 10. The fall was three inches. He states that he can bring rain in from three to six hours. He has had a circular letter printed and will send it throughout the country. In it he calls the attention of the public to his invention. He announces that he can cause rain to fall in an area of 250 square miles. An effort to learn the exact nature of his Invention has proven futile. It is believed, however, to have in it the fundamental principle of Iranklin’s kite experiment.