The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1871-07-13
Lightning Rods.

At this season Of the year, when thunder
storms are of frequent occurrence, and consld-
erable damage is done to buildings, and human
life is placed in jeopardy, the question regard
ing the measures Of protection afforded by rods
upon buildings is discussed with much interest.
It is pity the matter should be one of doubt
or uncertainty, and when rightly understood it
ceases to be such. Properly constructed rods,
placed upon buildings in proper manner,
afford absolute protection against any electrical
discharges which are liable to occur in thunder
storms, and this should be clearly understood
by every one. Public confidence has been
weakened in regard to the efficacy OF rods, oy
the frequent attacks made upon bindings to
which they have been affixed but this affords
10 evidence that they are worthless in princi-
pie. 1t rather affords proof that the rods were
badly constructed, or that they were adJusted
in careless, unscientifc manner. During the
past twenty years we have made it a point to
investigate, personally, every instance OF the
kind which occurred within our reach, and in
every one palpable defects were discovered in
the arrangement of the rods.
The defects most generally found have been
in the ground connections of the rods and ITe
venture to assert from what We have learned by
investigation, that large part of the rods put
upon buildings by ignorant, irresponsible ped
dfers," afford no measure of protection at all
Quite recently it came to our notice in repair
ing a building, that the rods penetrated into
the dry surface soil only about ttUo feet. The
rods were we'll enough; but the house was un-
protected in consequence of the imperfect earth
connections. Peddlers carry with them crow
bar, and with this they make little superficial
orifces in the ground, and thrust in the ends
of the rods, caring nothing for the consequences
which may result from their negligence. Usu-
ally they claim earth penetrations OF eight or
ten feet, and take pay for that extent OF rod,
and It is time this form of fraud was stopped.
Every person who desires to protect his build
ines must attend personally to having them
adjusted. He must know that the rods pene-
trate to point where permanent moisture is
present, which cannot be less, in ordinary soils,
than eight or ten feet. The terminals should
be constructed of copper, and it is always de-
sirable to have them placed in well. or st-
tached to iron water pipes, if the surface
pipes of the buildings are of lead or tin. AS
regards the form of rod, the old-fashioned,
large iron rod is BEST and it may be attached
to buildings in any way most convenient. The
pretty glass insulators, so largely used, are un"
Objectionable, but they are quite unnecessary
they do not add to the measure of protection,
or increase the value of the conductors. There
are a half dozen different forms of what are
known as "cable rods" manufactured, which
are constructed of bundle of small copper and
iron wires beand OF twisted together. These,
for the most part, are of good size, and we'll
adapted to the purposes for which they are de-
signed. With good rods carefully and scien-
tifcally adjusted, perfect sense of security
may be entertained by the owner or occupants
of buildings-Boston journal Of Chemistry.