The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1854-06-23


Thunder storms the present year have been fire.
4uent, and some Of them fearfully sctive; many
persons have been killed, and many buildings burn
ed or injured.
Lightning conductors afaxed to buildings or yes
sells afford absolute protection to life and property;
and as these appendages cost but tribe, no build
ing should be without them; and besides the fire
insurance companies Of this city (many if not all)
deduct ten per cent nom the amount of the premi-
um of insurance on all buildings insured which are
provided with lightning conductors.
In my long continued and extensive observations
Of lightning phenomena, have never yet met with
case of loss of life by lightning in building or
vessel furnished with metallic lightning conductors
reared for protection; nor have ever known Of
claim to be made on either marine or fire insurance
companies for loss by lightning in any case where
the building or vessel was furnished with lightning
conductors.
know Of case Of loss Of life by lightning in rail-
road cars steamboats, ocean steamers iron vessesor
iron houses, evidencng that metals not danger
GUS on account of suppose attraction of lightning
Metals conduct lightning and distribute it.
Iron wire Of Ave sixteenths of an inch in dame
ter is large enough for o lightning conductor. The
rod should be in one single piece aud filed to sharp
point, and extend two feet above the chimney or
highest point of a building designed to be pro-
tected, and extend to and into the ground to the
depth Of permanent moisture. No paint should be
put on the conductor. C0rrosion by oxidzation or
rust sill not injure the conducting powers Of TIE rod
Ii glass insuators are used, the bore OF the insu
ator should be SO large as to allow space for both
the water Of the rain and the Lightning to pass
through freely.
dwelling house requires conductor to every
chimney, and ii there be cupola, that should be
provided with n conductor also.
barn, fifty feet long, should have three rods,
and needs but one fastening to each, aud that at
the ridge pole, from which point the conductor may
dverge and reach the ground several feet from the
foundation of the building.
Meeting houses, having spires and bell, are more
difficult to protect, as the spires are generi Ally
strengthened at the top by an iron shaft, which
overcomes the rod, and discharges the lightning
upon the bell, by which it is distributed. In such
cases rod should present point under the bell.
Metal roofs should be connected with the earth by
conductors and the ehimneys above the roof should
have rods.
Shade trees should be provided with conductors.
shade tree affords no protection to building
against Lightning.
Iron wire, of five sxteenths of an inch in diameter
costs less that cent per foot. ANY person Of or
binary capacity can erect lightning conductors.
Buildings aud vessels furnished with lightning
conductors, it is thought, do not suffer from the
wind at least such is the result Of my Investigations
thus far made.
Persons struck down by lightning should be
drenched with cold water for hours; If that fail add
salt to the water and continue the drenchng. Any
information in my power to give as to lightning
conductors, is at the service Of everybody.
Il. MERRIAM.