The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1855-08-21

Agrierural Biri-ion 81 tte Paot 0Eee Eaeriencg ~
gce4poited lightning Roas.We clip the following from
the Livingston County New York; Republican, dated the
10th Of june;
The house Of Mr. Cushing about mile nnr Of the vii
lage &c Geneeo, STRUCK by lightning on Thursday me
2ad What singular the caHs the house guarded
y three sver-poned lightning rods 81 the most approved
construction, which, il seems Afforded no protechon.
II looking printed shee Of the next agricultural
report of the Potent Office find the following remarks
the subject;
The ost important things to be considered in the choice
lightning rods that they should consist Of good
Quoting lnsterias good capacity, should have good
connection with moisture IN the EARTH ia addition TO these
the area of their protecting nuercn aoud be regarded
lie plumber rods required hu.dng their position
special cases, and the modes III arranging them
With regard To the eeudnetng materials elpoyed in their
metal i undunhtsGiy the best and The choice
would 10 lie between ctppcr and iron ~ Poaihet
that Of iron. Dr. Picstley makes it 5 times much
and Professor Faraday "a tines much 81 that
ar bnvnr deerpined he sectional area Of An slcieni
copper rod, Of about six times that area Wal
possess the conducting power Iron, however VIII not
durable and efficient Conductors unless they entirely
eDuted with silver copper, tin palladium, gold IN conse-
qnence Of their LIABILITY 10 rust 0aate ~ The acon 81
the weather.
that the sectional Of composed
Of copper shnud vary from circle one half q an inch 20
inch diameter the larger being Tor
very tall conductors, and The smaller for shorter Ana
DOW respect tie form Of the rods il quite iaratea
bercd that all each conductor should be as etre
and straight possible presentng single point 10 the
eri OF all conductors OF electricity n1wns bsng about nine
times stronger than that 81 iron.
= OF al considerations the most important is good cnD-
nexon with The earth which Is 20 very essential mat With
out this ail other precautions VIII be ~ vain II y mot
enough that the conductor enter the EARTH for must pene-
trats i 60 some depthn faet tn It reaches the
where well pregnaied With water In order 70 feuce
the destructive acion Of moisture, lfhe oxidation n the
and at Cic The baTied OF che
every facility for dBpaing it, charge better
should ternnate by several branches sanlsn
bed 81 baruf CHARCOAL wood ashes sTant bark.
Anefher Important Po % be considered Y the slLa
and position in which the rods 70 be placed alter
they put up In al they should BIZ elevated aoFe
every other point n attraction least tncs fe diana
Of be protected; say, c0uinun-flzed
house. from ten fifteen feet about the top OF the highest
chimney other object extending above the root And MS
before iumated, the integrity and upright position q the
rods should be maintained far prnccahler avoiding
also, all abrupt angles and short turns house. barn,
church, factory &C, be ecRted IN the Ineciats nrp9r
hood oil eac ether and onr % them be protegsa the
danger all others will thereby be increased The rem
edv such obvious That nothing necessary 70
be added that
The question now presents itself: How the rods to
be affixed to the bud:ng-bv conducting by insulating
staples The unequiTpra reply would be- By Conducting
staples those covered with copa vGrnsh, or insulated
BIZ neek OF glass bottles has often been recon o
writers this subject for let Il be remembered that the
fash which may forced tRe through yards OF
mir would find difficulty in passing slight obstacles as
thase fFueh direction formed part Of the Ehtnin2s path
previously prepared, felt out n Is
TRUTH that conductor pass mass Of metal 10 oiera-
BILE connexun with The earth the Fash w sometimes avae
itse between the two channe portion OF u continuing
its down the rod and the other portion snvng ~ ~
pursue the side path Therefore, IN order 70 alleviate this
lateral discharge deviation from the main chnnns All
nseced yicina electrified bodies should be united 20 the
conductor itself metallic wires or banda Then,
il the building il predispdsad BY the anteeedent ndnctve
actieu to share with the rod il conveying away the G let
il be done good sogb without explosion, without
Jracos, the French eniphatically call it,
Conductors should neither be painted VANISHED
that would diminish their conducting power. II made OF
iron they shoud be csated with metal before
mr. as distance Of about four inches from the vss sup
ported by iron staples or wooden supports