Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1845-08-29
GUARD AGAINST DANGER.

We have recently had sad experience OF the
fatal power Of The electric fluid. it is The dn'y,
therefore, Of US all To render our aid in guarding
against its awful effects in iuture. Time ha,
fully tested the immense benefits OF The lightning
rod, which The genius and wisdom OF our own
Franklin LEFT 10 his counirymcn as a rich legacy.
Were they more extensively employed, We Should
hear less ollen Of the dreadful alamlie now
daily announced in The newspapers. We feel
that We arc serving because Of philanthropy, BY
publishing The following valuable letter from a
distinguished Chemist in Philadelphia. llwould
be well, not only for The inhabitants OF Cities 10
furnish themselves with lighlnins.lols. but also
Of great importance for The farmers TO protect
their houses and well. filled barns against light
ming, upon the principles here laid down
Correspondence Of he Philadelphia Inquirer.
Ef1aot 10 The Editor, daied
NEWPORT, Aug. IG, 1915.
Dear Sir-Tn The Inquirer and National Ga
Zelte OF the 18th instant, il is mentioned that The
barn of MIR. Delwier, near Reading, was struck
by lightning while furnished with a lighlnins-rod
al The east end Of the building. Although | can
but i'll spare the time, from other objects in
which | am engaged, | am led 10 call attention 10
the sad consequences OF this error OF not putting
up a conductor intended for the protection Of any
building against lightning, at the Westernmo>t
part, aud preferably The nnrthwesiefnmoSi end or
corner. am under The impression that all ihnn-
dcIgusls, in this part Of the world. come from the
westward, and generally from The northwestward.
We have sometimes storms from lle southeast,
accompanied by dilnse electrical flashes, but such
genuine thunder.guaS rs produce dangerous dis
charges of concentrated lightning, agreeably TO
my observations, come always as above stated
Being consulted ahont len days since, by the pro-
prielor of a house, respecting The proper mode of
putting up a lightning rod, advised that II should
be secured TO the North western chimney, SO as,
while dnty pointed, 10 extend about len feet above
il. Had Mr.. Deiwiler put up a rod, rA painted
aborc nnd ~proptrlg terminated 6cicir, al The North
westernmost part OF his barn, | am OF opinion
that il would not have been struck. ! advance
this opinion condilionally, because a lightning rod
is competent as a conductor OF electricity only so
far as il terminates in contact with a conducting
medium capable OF diIusins into the earth any
electricity which may be presented 10 H.. Unior-
iunately, the conducting power OF the soil IN which
these rods usually terminate, is due only 10 the
moisture which il naturally holds; while, accord
ing 10 Cavendish, The conducting power OF wafer
itself is two hundred thousand times less than
that of iron. Il follows that an iron rod, when
terminating in dry earth, IS wholly incapacitated
from acting as a conductor. Ii is like a pipe plug
ged al The lower end. Even when the soil is
moist, the rod cannot receive more electricity
than The soil can carry of from it. Hence, under
ordinary circumstances, the competency of light
ming rods is dependent on The pointed form given
10 The upper end, which prevents the electricity
from bcin. received above in greater quantity
Than il can gel of through the soil below.
lightning rods should always be made, il pos
sible, 10 terminate in the nearest spring or stream
OF water, whether al The bottom OF a we'll or the
%snrlace OF The earth; i, being excepted, that in
cities, where there is an extensive ramihcaiion Of
metallic pipes, for the conveyance Of wafer or