New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1861-08-06

telenaph-oEices experience both annoyance aho
danger during hundertorms, tho action OF the wires
being suspended the instruments sometimes destroyed
and the wires melted by explosion, while the ope'
rators have been knocked senseless by the shock.
Accounts are often published of the telegraph being
interrupted By storm. Most Of these proceed from
disturbance Of the natural electricity OF the wire.
thunder-coud be driven by the wind so as to cross Ut
right angles the middle Of long line OF Telegraph,
during the whole time the clond is approaching the
point Of its path directly above the wire the repulSon
of the redundant electricity of the former will con-
SANITY drive the natural electricity of tie latter fur
Their and further along the line, that during the ap
proach Of the cloud continuous current viii exist in
each half Of the line When the center Of action Of
the cloud arrives at the nearest point Of the wire, the
current viii for moment, and the repulsion
gradually dninshes by the receding of the cloud the
natural electricity of he wire will return to is normal
condition by current opposite to that which was r.t
manifested. AS thunder-elouds the greater por-
ton of the Union from west TO east those lines
running north and south more liable to currents oil
tits Glass; Another class of currents though coninu-
ing butan instant. more intense than tie preceding
and give rise to vivid sparks These due 20 the
dynamic induction at distance Of a discharge from
cloud % cloud, from cloud obliquely to the earth
The greatest intensity is when the path Of the light
ming is parallel TO the line of wire, and in this case
under favorable circumstances, sparks and shocks may
result from discharge between two clouds at The dis
tsnce of several miles. A similar result ia produced
on long lnes of railway, and sparks have been OBJ
served al the joints Of those rails not in perfect metallic
connection, particularly at tie turntables
Telegraphs are sometimes disturbed by other infu-
ences If line Of wire extends high bill, tie
intensity Of electricity viii be greater OF the high points
than below, particularly during the occurrence o.
fogs the wire viii tend absorb The electricity OF the
fir, and transmit il from the higher TO the lower por-
ticus; also, during the fail Of ria and Sow on one
portion Of long WIRE while clear weather exists at
another there would be n current Of electricity OBJ
served in the intermediate portion. During very
warm weather feeble current Is observed at different
portions Of the day which may be referred to thermo-
eectricity. II is well known that when one end OF
long conductor is heated and the other cooled H
cl, ctrcal current will pass from the hotter TO the GOA
er extremity and this will be continued as long as the
difference Of temperature exists. Currents Of cleo
trcy have also been observed in connection with the
appearance Of the Aurora Boreas, Of sufficient inten-
SHY set ere 10 pieces Of paper. Professor Henys
eucdation OF this interesting question is very full and
clear and should be consulted 10y all curious Students
Of these great natural mysteries.
He has oso given much attention TO the relation
siipg between gns-pres, waieE-ppes, and lightning.
Tbcse pipes thote for gar especially noy iu,Io-
dacsd oxteIEyeiy iuo 10 many cities and towns, IS
to invest tie subect with peculiar interest. He says
distinctly that wih gas-pipcs source Of danger
was introduced. Persons who repudiaie the use Of
ebtniDg.Tods because they attract electricity fiOm tie
couds should reject tho introduction Of gss particular
ly into tie upper stories Of their dwellings since the
perpeud c1lar pipes must act as the most efficient
iucios between tie cloud and the esIth. This is be-
Cause thew arc connected below the ground with
peXus OF pipes in many CAGES Of miles in extent, tho
whole Of which, by the induction If large c!old, is
rendered highly negative; and rs this action takes
place with as much efficiency through the roof OF
house and the chamber floors as II does through the
oren air, q gas-ppe, therefore, within house, In
proportion 10 ts hight would powerfully attract any
dschaIge from cloud 10 its vicinity. In July Of this
year, house in PHILADELPHIA, having no con-
ductor was struc. by lightning, the bolt falling on
he front eayes greatly damaging the upper partof the
building from front rear, aud wholly dcmolishing
back building. The bell wires and part Of tho gas
pipe were melted, and in one pipe the gas was ig.
uited. Ali the other pipes were violently twisted
out Of place add the walls and ceiling shattered around
them showing that tho flash had trRversed the whole
network of tubing. Two houses in the District Of
Columbia, both being armed with CONDUCTORS were
carefully examined by Professor Henry after the con-
ducoIs had been struck. In each Gaze the bolt had
on on the point OF the rod d. sconded i for some dis
lance then passed by eccentric coures down the out
side # the building, 10 point opposite to gaspipo
on tho inside where in ore case il pierced brick
wall nine inches thick to reach the pipe, snd severely
shocked lady who was sitting within eighteen inches
of the latter. In the other il also LEFT the con-
dretor for the gaspipe, piercing wall to reach il.
In New. Haven, also, tue lghtningrod Of a church
Wa. Gtruck twice, in different years, when on both
occasions tie charge left the rod and pIecptsied Itself
on the gaspipes within, following them to the street
MAINS which were 60 much loosened by the violence
of one Of the explosions as TO require them TO DO road
justed to stop the leakage ofeas.
Here is evidently new danger 10 which public at
tenon has never been directed and Of which in con-
sequence they DO not seem 10 DO aware. To eectuay
dissrm IT, the outside conductor house should be
composed Of greater net work Of iron than that placed
by the ns-ftter on the inside. Wherever he greatest
mass Of metal may be located there viii be- the chosen
track Of the destructive fash. Nothing short Of this
excess outside win prove an unhsUmg preventive 70
the lightning coming inside, unless il be connecting The
lower end Of the rod which rises above tie TOP OF the
building with the plexus Of Gasrpo outside Tie louse
THO latter il by far the better ard more reliable eXpc-
dent. IT, rs is very frequently the case tic nod is
made to terminate by simple insertion Of only fow
feet in tho dry EARTH while the gasppe Is connected
with miles Of metallic masses, rendered highly negative
by induction tho path Of least resistance or Of most
intense induction from the cloud to the EARTH wiz be
down The rcd TO some point opposite the gsppe, then
Il - .Lo Lnren md nnrrn he nine % do ,--nnt