Sunbury American. [volume] (Sunbury, Pa.) 1848-1879, 1852-04-17
COMMUNICATION.


H. Masser, Esq. The destruction o.
lie and property by lightning has been st
ireqnent OF late years, in our State, as TO de.
mand the attention Of the community il
seeking for means of protection against ,hi.
powerful agent.
Electricity is an exceedingly subtitle, elias.
lie, and penetrating fluid, pervaling every
substance in, and upon our globe. Nor is il
confined 10 the earth only but the atmos
phere which surrounds the earth, is also
charged with it. Clouds, as well as rain
snow and hail, which fall from them, are AL
ways electrified, bu, oftener negatively than
positively; and the lightning accompanied
by the thunder, is the effect of the electrici
~, which, darling from clouds or a number
of clouds highly electrified, strikes into an.
other cloud, or else upon terrestrial objects
III which case il prefers the loiiesl, mos,
pointed, and best conducting objects and by
this stroke it produces all those dreadful eli.
fec,s, which are known TO be produced by
lightning.
But, by The light which science has shed
upon the subject of electricity, since the dis
coveries by FRANLLIN, this invisible, aud all
pervading fluid, has not only been rendered
harmless, but conducive TO mans health,
welfare and happiness. Physicians have ap-
pied electricity, for the cure of "A number OF
disorders, and in many cases with signal sue
cess. And who has not witnessed with as
tonishmeni, its almost miraculous agency in
transmitting our thoughts, by means of the
telegraph wires TO our friends, thousands of
miles off, in a few seconds of time Nay,
even the terrible Thunder and Lightning
which may well be demo minated "1he Dr.
tllcry Of Heavcn," and well calculated 10
make guilty world tremble before "Him,
1rhO thus mtereth His uoice in the HearenS,"
may, at the same time that it teaches lis our
own insigniicance, be rendered harmless, by
making use OF the means, which He has been
pleased to discover TO us, and placed within
our reach.
The lightning rod, or conductor, properly
constructed and erected TO buildings, has
been universally acknowledged as sure,
and certain defence from the effects Of light
ming. No instance is on record Of a building
being destroyed by lightning, which was fur
nshed with properly constructed and pro-
perly erected conductors. But as there are
quacks in the practice of medicine who as
frequently kill, as cure their patients: SO
there are those, who, though totally igno-
ran, of that highly interesting branch ol
Natural Philosophy, Electricity, and of lis
causes and effects, will yet often palm of on
the uninformed an Indifferent and imperfect
article as a conductor Of electricity, by which
the buildings 10 which they may be attach
ed, are no, only not secured against liehl-
ming, but absolutely more endangered than
they would be without them.
Let then all see to it, that they have pro-
pcrly constructed rods put 10 their buildings
if they would secure them from destruction
by lightning.
Before dismissirg this subject permit me
10 answer few objections, which are some
times made by those who are asked why
they have no conductors TO their buildings
One SAYS 81 have my buildings and stock in
.ured against fire." Well, | am clad you
have for every sensible man ought 10 have
his property insured. Bu, suppose the light
ming struck your house, and killed one of
your family; what consolation would your
insurance give you Or, if it struck your
barn, and killed one or more of your horses,
or cattle, (worh dozen lightning rods) with
out burning your barn, would the Insurance
Company pay you for your loss! They would
not.
Another says, 81 put my trust in Provi-
dence, for the protection of my property."-
am glad you recognize Him as the Sover-
eign Ruler Of the Universe But let me ask
you, has He not also appointed means for the
preservation of our lives, our health, and our
property, and commanded US 10 use them for
the same! Has He not said, "Do this and
live"? And do you not act upon this princi-
pie when you, or any of your family are
sick, do you not call in physician, and use
the remedies prescribed for the restoration of
healh7 Use then the means, trusting in
Providence, and you will have done your
duty. rHiLolEChNoS'
THE Erie Observer of Saturday says:
U.,,s arriva and dpDart daiiv from this