The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-08-20
Our New Haven Correspondence.


Cor voting for Turner.
Our New Haven Correspondence.
NEw HAVEN, August 10, 1850.
american Comvention for the Advancement of
Science
The annual meeting of the above association was
held this day, at Yale College, at half-past two
o'clock. The following is list of the officers for
the year 1850, elected at the Cambridge meeting;-
Prof A. D. Bache, Prest. Dr. A. L. Elwyn, Trea-
E. q. Herrick, Secretary surer.
Standing COMMITTEE.
R.Si Fi is S'is'f ha %:sas
Local Committee for the Meeting at Nev Haven.
R Rs1 d. oms. %S00l'sy en oaahan Knight
Prof N. Porter. Prot y. +. Salisbury,
William Hillhouse, Prof. b. Silliman, Jr
J. d. Dana,
The meeting was well attended, and amongst
them was a large gathering of scientific men from
all parts Of the States. Several ladies, too, graced
the assemblage by their presence. Every. accom-
mediation was afforded the members of the press
by Professor Olmsted, and L. c. Herrick, the
Secretary.
Upon The motion of Professor siman the chair
was taken by Professor A. ID. Bache, the Presi-
dent Of the Association. The meeting then
ID. Woolsey
taxing abstracts of the proceedings The Presi-
dent then nominated Professor LOOMS, DIR. Gould,
and Wm L. Blake, TO assist as assistant secre
taries
The names Of new members were then read and
approved of.
A communication, inviting the members of the
Association TO attend at Amherst College, for the
purpose Of holding their meeting for 1851 at Am
herst, was read. A gentleman said he was the
bearer OF an invitation from Cincinnati, and he
hoped the meeting would not decide upon going
Amherst IA IN m mi ion
The invitations were referred to a committee.
PROFESSOR OrMsTED then proceeded to deliver his
observations on certain points of electrical rheo-
~. In the year 1888, house struck by
lightning In the eastern part Of the city of New Ha-
ven, where the effect IN question first attracted my
notice. The house had no lightning. rod, but the
chimney, which rose from the centre Of the roof,
was the point of attack. A small fire was burn.
ing in a tire place, In the family ROOM the smoke
OF which, undoubtedly, invited the charge in that
direction. The main charge ran down the chin
ney, as far as the roof, and taking course of iils
along one OF the rafters, made It's way to the tin
gutter, and thence, by the tin water pipe, found its
way TO the earth. But a fact 81 more interest was
the indication IN the family room Of certain effects
which were evidently due TO the sudden and pow
eriul expansion OF the air Of the chimney and of
the apartment below. The ashes and embers were
scattered over the room, and the windows oppo-
site the fireplace, nj the Distance. perhaps, OF Is
feet from II, were singuary broken, several of the
pnnes OF glass being cracked in a way which plain
ly denoted that IL was done by an elastic force
pane was divided into numerous sections or TRAN
giles by cracks, diverging from a common point AT
the centre. lie had seen several instances where
similar indications were afforded May we not
refer to this cause some Of those cases where
heavy bodies are moved out Of their places by a
stroke of lghtninRl A house ia this city, a
lew years since, was struck by lightning, which
tore its way from the top Of the chimney down
ward; heavy articles standing on the MANTLE
tree OF the fireplace, -suth rs LAMPS, vases
&c, were overturned and thrown some dis
lance. Some people have hastily concluded
that It Is of little importance whether hight.
ning-rod is solid cylinder or a hollow tube;
or whether, IL solid, the interior part is a
good or vast conductor, provided the surface is
good conductor. looking glass was broken into |
numerous fragmenis-the lightning entered on |
one corner Of the glass and passed out dsgonay |
at another corner-and as the costrg Of the mirror
exposed nearly six square feet Of pretty heavy |
amalgam, u might have been supposed adequate |
for the transmissicn Of the ohlrge without re- /
eistsnoe. II may be inferred that sand, by /
being wet, is still but an imperfect CONDUCTOR, |
and that hence hehining.rod which termi-
mates in sandy soil, has but an Indifferent po-
sition, even when the sand IS moist In a sill
cous coil, therefore, II Is peculiarly important that
the bottom Of the cod should be in commute cation
with some better medium than the soil itself such
ts well, an squeduct or an iron railway, or an
iron fence. II will add 10 the security of light
Ming rod TO have points Of delivery at the surface Of
the ground; the raia which usually accompanies |
thunder and lightning may greatly increase the |
conducting power Of the surface before IL has had
time 10 penetrate to any deph During the past
summer, house was struck with lightning in my /
own neiehborhood. The electricity found its way |
to well in the kitchen through the medium Of |
meisllic pump, the shaft being copper, and the
handle iron. Al the instant the cook was in the
act Of pumping water. With perfect con-
Quoting communication with the earth rs was
afforded by. a large iron pump handle, closely
Joined to heavy copper shaft, which descend
ed into deep well. II might have been deem
ed quite safe to grasp the handle of the pump,
while the charge was passing, but the female was
knocked down, ard for n few moments rendered |
senseless. The Professor then gave several ia
stances Of the tendency Of heavy charge Of light
ming, dividing itself among different conductors. |
In one instance st the distance OF about forty feet
from the top Of the house rod, current Of smoke
was ascending from the kitchen fireplace, which |
diverted 20 itself small portion Of the charge that
passed through the foot Of female who was Mt l
work near the fire place, tearing the shoe OF
poste sides. communicating TO the foot n strong
sensation OF heat; thence it made it's way by a sin
Gle silver The city OF New Haven Ape irs to be
one Of those places which are peculiarly able 10
be struck with lightning. Seldom does year
pass without serious damage by lightning 70 one
or more buildings. In lS+5, no less than seven
dwelling houses were struck, five OF them with
much violence. Three OF the number were
armed with lightning rods, and although they did
not furnish complete protectOo, yet they evidently
transmitted in each case the greatest part Of the
cbsrge, and probably were the me ans ri preserving
the lives ~ the inmates. The reason why the
city y peculiarly srhject TO attscSs if,m lightning