Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1872-05-22
LIGHTNING RODS.

rounded-heat, colds, winds, water, lighI
ming, &c. Even yet he is not perfectly
secure against these, and it is but recent
~ that progress has been made towar
protection against the terrific elemen
that plays with vivid flashes between
the earth and the thunder cloud, so oftel
shattering trees. burning dwellings, ant
instantly destroying life. Science has
however completely mastered it; no
only compelling it to bear our messages
along the wires from state to state, ant
from continent to continent, but so di
rects it as it leaps from tho bosom Of thu
storm, as to render man and his dwell
ing perfectly safe
A good lightning rod properly attach
ed to his house will just as certainly
protect man against lightning, as good
roof will protect him from descending
rain; and it is just as wise to secure
protection in one case as in the other.
The relative conducting power of met
ais is as follows:
Silver, 100; Copper, 90; Gold, 65
Zinc, "a; Tin, IA; Iron, 12; Lead, s;
| Platina,7.
Silver conducts electricity more per
fectly than any other metal, but its cost
renders its use impracticable. The next
best conductor is copper, which is not
much inferior to silver. and which on
account of its cheapness, durability. and
freedom from oxidation, is at once tie
metal for this purpose. Its conducting
capacity is over six times that of iron
hence its great superiority TO that metal.
1t is asserted by some that it is not
right to put up lightning rod, as it
shows lack of confidence in the Crea-
tor, ar ilterferes with His designs If
this is true, it must be wrong to guard
against the other elements of nature. He
sends the heat, the cold, rain; also,
poverty, sickness and death. What
right have we to protect ourselves from
them by the erection of comfortable
dwellings, or to thwart His plans by in
dustry, by taking medicine or using
means to prolong our lives What
righ. have We to take the lives of ami
mails, or even to uproot plants of His
creation ? Are they not equally the
work of His hands and objects of His
care? They certainly are If the first
proposition il correct, we ought to lay
aside our reason. and make no effort to
avail ourselves of the blessings, or avoid
the dangers that surrounded us.
Again, does it show a lack of conf
Ieuce 7 Where are we told to exercise
faith without works How can we ex-
pect to attain certain end without us
ing means No truth is more plainly
iaught in the bible, or more in accor-
lance with reason and our practical ex
pe,ience than this if we would reap
golden har vest We must sow the seed
if we would enjoy temporal blessings or
hope for spiritual salvation. We must en-
ploy the means which God hath ordain
ed, looking to Him in humble trust and
confidence to bless our labors.
Again, some persons appear to think
that rod will protect an unlimited sur
face Accordingly on their barn, per-
haps sixty to ninety feet in length, they
place single rod and point, sometimes
IN the centre, at others at one end. OF
perchance. on pole near the builling
They extend this three to ten feet above
the barn, and then deem it secure with
out any regard to the column Of heated
vaporous and rarifed air which often
rises from the hay and grain, and invites
the lightning to its work of destruction.
The same with their dwellings. There
may be d zen chimneys pinnacles and
gables. any one of which is liable to re
ceive the lightning. yet nothing would
induce them to have more than one rod
placed on the building. 1t is almost in
credible that any person who can read
or posses ses powers of observation.
should entertain opinions 60 utterly at
variance with facts and common senae,
and in direct opposition to the unani-
nous testimony of those who have de-
voted their lives to the investigation of
electrical science.
alt is all well enough to rod barns.
but houses do not need them!' 1t is
true barns are in special danger just
.fter being filled with crops. yet take
the whole year, and it is fact well
known, not near as many are struck as
houses And further, It's in houses we
live they contain our families and dear
est treasures on earth No man can
estimate the damage which might be
done. 1t is important to protect barns.
but far, far more to regard the safety of
the inmates of our dwellings. What is a
few dollars in comparison?
Prof Henry, Secretary of the Smith
sonian Institute, says no damage can en-
sue to building protected by a light
ming rod. however many discharges may
fall upon it. A good copper rod by its
powerful induction, diminishes the in
tensity of the lower part of the cloud.
and therefore diminishes the number of