To the editor:

Mark Twain once said nearly everyone talks about the weather, but few people do anything about it.

There is no question that much has been done to control the weather. Today one can live in air-conditioned comfort and avoid uncomfortable heat and humidity. During periods of drought, efforts have been made to seed clouds in order to produce rainfall. Some progress has been made, but one may wonder how much success is advisable. Talk to a group of farmers about the right amount of rainfall, and one will often find strong disagreement.

Within another generation or century, it may be possible for scientific technology to have greater control over the weather.

However, such progress may only serve to create greater problems. Who would determine the most satisfactory weather needed for different areas? It is not only possible but probable that such control would create more problems than it would solve.

One can approve an enjoy the benefits and discoveries of scientific technology, but care must be taken not to make it the dominant or controlling factor.

The forces of nature seem to have a fairly adequate system for serving human needs and to continue to give mankind a challenge.

IVAN NOTHDURFT

Cape Girardeau