Bloomington herald. [volume] (Bloomington, I. T. [Iowa]) 1840-1849, 1841-05-21
For the Herald.
EishiHiny' Foods.

The most practical application of the the
DRY Of Electricity, is the protection of build
ings from The effects of'lightning. The prin-
| ciples on which these conductors should be
constructed, is of the utmost consequence, in
| order to have them answer the end desired from
their construction, without which it is vain
to expect to secure efficiency and safety.
The material mostly used in their construc-
ton is iron, which, from its abundance and
cheapness, will doubtlessly continue in use,
though copper is preferable, from its possessing
greater conducting power and being less liable
to rust and fusion and destruction by an cleo
trio discharge, as iron sometimes is; iron,
when we'll put up, answers every purpose, and
gives all reasonable security. No rod should
be less than three fourths of an inch in dame
ter-an inch is to be preferred, as it is the sur
face alone that has any effect in conducting
the electric fluid; consequently the larger the
surface over which it passes, the less intense
the action and the greater the security there
from. A small quantity of metal, of the right
form, that is with the largest possible surface
the quantity Of metal will admit of, will make
better conductor than a large quantity imper-
fectly prepared. Copper ribbon of two inches
in width, and of the proper length, will answer
a better purpose than prepared in airy other
manner, and In this country, where the ore can
be procured in such great abundance, should
be furnished at cheap rate. This, as there
are no joints to fit, can easily be put up for use
The most essential thing in preparing these
rods is making the elevated points, which
should be several in number, diverging from
the main rod, and the points guided or tipped
with silver, which will prevent their rusting
or losing their conducting power. When the
| rod is made in several pieces they should new
h,o toL 1x,L i,l- tI,o Il,
interruption to the descending fluid will fire.
quently result, and be attended with bad con-
sequences. The pieces should be put together
with screws, the connecting pieces securing
the ends of the two rods, and should be as
near the size Of the conductor as strength and
security will admit. The rod shoul(. never be
secured to the building by metal fasenings, if
possible to prevent il, if not, then the connec
ton should be broken by some non-conductor,
as glass. Wood is the best for fastenings, and
this should only be used from necessity. No
interruption should exist in the continuity of
the rod from top to bottom, the lower end of
which should gradually fecede from the build
ing and be carried into the earth till it reaches
moist earth; a neglect of this has frequently
produced fatal results. The facility of the
escaping fluid will be effected by the parting
of the rod in different ways into the earth.-
No paint should ever be used.
The most elevated part of the building
should be selected as the point for the erection
of the rod If a dwelling house, the chimney
is the point that will most need security, as
heated currents of vapor are great conductors
of electricity. If there are several, the high
est one, the one most exposed to storms, as the
Westerly one, or the one in which fire is kept
as circumstances may suggest.
hc IN,
which, during the summer season, is liable to
be surcharged with the electric fluid, it is
matter of some consequence to our citizens to
have their buildings suitably protected from its
dangerous ravages.
Such as deem this subject as worthy of no.
tice (and there are many) will do well to call
upon Messrs. SMITH Or SMALLEY, and have
their homes and lives secured at triling ex-
pense. ELECTRO.
A good wife is like printers roler-the
latter beiup cofnnosei If Ynolaca- and xrJuo