Brimming Reservoirs of New York Endanger Rainmaker Howell's Job

New York City reservoirs runneth over and Wallace E. Howell is probably out of the $100-a-day job.

The city rainmaker's contract expires tomorrow and Dominick Paduano, recently appointed New York Water Commissioner, has recommended that it not be renewed.

Howell feels that his experiments have contributed partially to the present full condition of New York's reservoirs, but that they would be nearly as full without his experiments. He added that he thinks there is "not much chance" that his contract will be renewed until a new water crisis arises in New York City. Authorities in Gotham however are already worried over the early thaw.

Most of Howell's work has been with dry ice and silver iodide salts on the clouds in the vicinity of the reservoirs.

Results can be called "promising but not definitive," he added.