American Republican and Baltimore daily clipper. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1844-1846, 1845-06-26
From the Germantown Telegraph

iiNON -N 'c'N tNCAh LlN'll NlNO
Within the last few years, this subject has ac-
CURED renewed interest, in consequence of the
immense loss Of life and property which has
been sustained throughout our country, by this
terrific agency. 1t has, therefore, become
practical question of vast importance, in which
we all have deep concern as to the causes of
this destruction, and the best means of coun-
teracting an element so universally diff'uscd
throughout space, and which left to itself sprove
so highly destructive. To superficial observer,
it must be very manifest that there exist a cul-
pablo ignorance on the part of the community,
in reference to this whole subject, as well as
general neglect in the employment of those
means which, both experience and philosophy
have proved adequate for the perfect protection
OF property, and consequently of human life
From recent Investigations, it has been salts
iactory ascertaiued, that the simple rod Of
Franklin is all sufficient, if properly made and
applied, TO secure this requisite protection, and
that in all cases, whete buildings have been
destroyed or much injured, it has been owing
either to neglect Gifts use, or to some violation
OF established principles IN its construct N or
application. No building can be considered
secure without good conductor, and nine
| tenths of those now having them, arc not much
better off, owing to the fact of their faulty con-
structon, theirnadequate height and terminal
ton, and the very negligent manner of their
application. AS the conducting power of the
rod is greatly influenced by extraneous circum-
stances, it should be made, not only with
great care, but in street accordance with those
principles which experience has proved neccs-
sary, in order to attain the highest possible de-
gree Of this essential requisite.
The Conductor should be made either of cop
per or lron-the first is by far the best, as it is
not liable to rust, and possesses ei ght times the
conducting power of the latter; but its very
high price operates to exclude it from general
use, and causes iron to be preferred, as its mo-
derate cost brings it within the means Of every
citizen and farmer throughout our city and coun-
try.
The Conductor should be of rounded form
three quarters TO one inch in diameter-the
larger, the better security, as the conducting
po,cer is in proportion to The solid mass; it should
be continuous, the bars of which it is composed
being well screwed into each other, or nicely
adapted, by means of mortice and tenon
joint pinned firmly together, by which the sur
face are brought into the most intimate contact.
The Conductor should be terminated at its
superior or upper end by stem of "copper"
capped either with one or more points made of
gold, platina or silver, but of these the first is
the best, as its conducting power is much
greater than either of the other metals, and if
made solid, or well galvanized, is less liable to
rust, a common result in climate so moist and
variable as ours. In addition to this, the rod
should be well painted with several coats of
black paint, which not only protects it from
the moisture, but also tends TO increase its con-
Quoting power.
As 10 the application. The efficiency of con-
ductor is greatly increased by height abore the
building, and in this particular the greatest
possible ignorance prevails, not only in the
community at large, but in those who profess
to understand this subject, and to furnish the
necessary means of protection to others.
1t is common occurrence all over the land,
to see large barns and public buildings of great
dimensions, say of thirty, forty-ive, or sixty
feet in extent, protected with a small rod, ele-
waited two or three feet above the chimney or
ridge of the roof, an experiment not only dam
gerous in itself considered, but a useless ex-
pense, without securing, in any way, the object
for which it was applied.
The established rule then is: That conductor
lcH protect space every way, only ttoice The er-
tent of its height above The building, and this
rule should never be violated in the adaptation
Of the conductor; for if it is to be placed only
three feet above the ridge of the roof of
house or barn, say thirty feet in length, it fol-
lows, of course, that only sic feet in every drec-
ton from its point receives protection, while the
rest of the building is left exposed to almost
certain destruction, if struck by lightning I'M
der these circumstances, and in this way it can
be readily understood why houses having u rod
are frequently destroyed, and the disrepute In
to which the ordinary means of protection
have fallen into many parts OF our land
One conductor is sufficient for almost any
sized building, provided its elevation is equally
great-but when this is not desirable, two or
more placed in different situations should be
mployed-particularly if there be several
high points or chimneys.
1t should be secured to the building by
means of iron or wooden stays, embracing
necks OF glass bottles, rings OF horn, or dried
wood, through which the rod should be passed
thereby removing all danger of the lateral
discharge, which, however, is not great if the
rod be perfect, and due attention be paid to ia
cilitate the discharge of its termination into
the earth's surface.
The termination Of The rod should be into earth
permanently moist, which is found ordinarily at
five or eight feet in sandy or gravely SOIL
This is Of vast importance, and if overlooked,
will endanger the building and its inmates,
however perfect the conductor may be in its
construction and application; much almost
everything depends on this principle being
fairly carried out, the rod must be inserted into
earth permanently moist.
In order to guard the rod from rust, when
passed into the ground, it will be necessary to
paint it a number of times with good black
paint, and the hole into which it is inserted,
should be partially filled up with fine charcoal,
such as is found in the pan of every house
keeper; as this not only retains moisture for
long time when wet, but likewise contracts
that tendency to rust, which proves so destruc-
tive to iron, with a few years exposure in our
climate.
With due attention to these directions, and