Spirit of the times. [volume] (Ironton, Ohio) 1853-1858, 1853-08-09

The following upon the subject Of
Lightning rolls, suggested by an arlice
from the Scientific American is we'll
worthy Of at,rrtion.
"Thc writer says the solid section is
The main object, NOT the surface. Thn,
may do for convenience, but it is not
true that rounl roll has the same con.
ductins power as a square Of the same
size. Proof place wire between tac
poles of battery, AMI mark The height
of fluid at w'licn /, me!;s; then anoihcr
wire Of tho same size, ana materially
Faticncd, and you will observe that the
conducting power is in proportion TO the
extent Of surface. Moreover hollow
ball will attract the fluid as far as if il
was solid, aud will also contain rs
much fluid. Certainly all will agree
lhat the fluid does not permcate the rot.
For these reasons | am n favor OF II
square or fiat conluctor; would prefer
copper strap to any other for economy
durability and safety.
Ent there are some other points that
may be noticed. Is The lightning Of the
clouds Identical with that Of common
cylirdcr or plate machine? The fol.
lowing points will show that it is
They are both invisible when not in mo.
ton, or when passing Oh a good con.
duaor. They are both visible (proiu.
cling lish: and heat, when passing thro'
noa-tonductoss, rs mir, dry wool, &c.
They IRE both generated when vopor is
conlcnsoi. They both make noise
when passing through the cir. They
botn produce ignition anil destroy life, If
sufficiently intonsc. Many other stri.
kim simlari,ies might be mentioned, ii
necessary. bat think these vii con-.
vince any one that they must be the
same.
Now when We put up a lightning rod,
these well known laws must be kept in
mind il we regard the safety Of our hou.
scs and heads. The Ii ,htning rod ped-
lars are generally set Of humbusgcrs,
not properly imposters, for they do not
understand the matter themselves, and
don't know but they are right, being
agents for others Their advertisements
are sufficient evidence oftheir Ignorance
for instance. "Platinum silver points,
highly magnc,zcI, AMI warranted to at.
tract Ii i5h;ning a great distance. &c. -
Whereas neither silver or platinum
can be male into a magnet. Perhaps,
the greatest objection to the rods the rod
pcilars put rp, is that the lower end is
bunt. Both ends should be sharp, for
the same law which covers Tie reception
of the fluid also governs the emission.
For example: charge a machine on a dry
day as highly as possible, and if there is
no sharp point OF corner, no noise will
be heard or any light saen-but il there
is the least point or sharp corner, its
escape will be made manifest. True,
if the lower end If IL rod had perfect
connection with the earth all would be
well as 70 that part, but ,h,s would re-
quiro great depth in he ground, and cS
tent of surface of rod.
As to ,hc distance protected by rod.
something may be learned by rcmcm.
bcring that the fluid will take ii point
ten times the distance it will take IA blunt
mean metallic point, we'll connected
with the earth below. doub; whether
,horcis a platinum poin, in the country
they would be best. or at least most en-
durig-perhaps not better than gold
though cheaper. In this region where
the stone coal smoke is so abundant in
sulphur, silver is decidedly unfit for
points. Copper if filed once or twice q
year vi II do well. J. IL. CREIGHToN.