42 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ILLINOIS 



ductor and which is charged by putting it in communication with the 

 machine when in operation. But if this conductor is left exposed in the 

 free air, after a while it is found to be discharged. If however it is put 

 under the receiver of an air pump, it retains its charge for an indefinite 

 time. How does the conductor in the open air discharge itself.'' By its 

 inductive influence it acts upon the particles of dust and all other mat- 

 ter floating in the air. It evokes the opposite electricity in them; hence 

 attracting them, and having charged them with its own electricity, re- 

 pels them. In flying off, they of course carry a portion of the charge 

 with them. This operation is continued, and in a short time the con- 

 ductor is found discharged. The conical electric wave which rolls over 

 the surface of the Earth eastward acts similarly on the air and all par- 

 ticles of matter floating in it. It attracts both ; hence there is always a 

 current of air toward, or, in the northern hemisphere, rather in a direc- 

 tion somewhat to the right of an area of low pressure. The wind 

 moves around this area in a direction opposite to the hands of a watch. 

 But over the whole area covered by the low pressure, there is an ascend- 

 ing current of air. Hence all the vapor within the periphery of the 

 electric wave's influence, is attracted and carried up, forming and feed- 

 ing the overhanging cloud. Hence it is when we are within the attractive 

 influence of an approaching electric wave, no dew falls, and we predict 

 rain. In fact the low pressure indicated by the barometer is not ow- 

 ing, — as is generally supposed, — to a diminished volume of the superin- 

 cumbent atmosphere, but to the upward current that there obtains. In 

 proof of this. Professor Wise, the aeronaut, while investigating the phe- 

 nomena of a thunder-storm, witn his balloon passed in the ascending 

 current upward through the centre of the storm above the clouds, and 

 then descending by its own weight, his balloon was repeatedly drawn in 

 below and carried up through the storm again. 



The manner in which an electric wave feeds the overhanging cloud, 

 is beautifully illustrated in every mountain region. The only difference 

 is that a high range of mountains, is a fixed electric wave. A mountain 

 is like a ridge on a corrugated conductor. When the conductor is 

 charged, the charge collects on the ridges, while the furrows between 

 give no sign of electric excitement. The Earth is permanently charged 

 with electricity, secularly varying in intensity. Hence a high charge is 

 permanent on the summits of all mountain ranges. If therefore we 

 watch the action of a mountain in the formation of clouds, all mystery 

 vanishes as to the origin and the supply of vapor to form rain. 



I cannot refrain from relating and describing an interesting and en- 

 trancingly beautiful observation illustrating this point, made by me last 

 summer in the Rocky Mountains. My position was in a mining camp 

 over nine thousand feet above the sea. It was a bright morning in the 

 fore part of August ; and I was up as soon as day had sufficiently dawned 

 to make the magnificent scenery visible. West of me, at the distance of 

 about four miles lay the Snowy Range exposed to full view from Long's 



