The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1874-06-08
LightninS Rods.

rod touching the boards, is safe rod
to protect buildingr We might sim
ply answer our correspondent by an
imperative no, bu. the letter affords US
so good text to treat OF one OF the
most srrsnt bumbugs and palpable
frauds OF the age, that we propose to
cay something upon the general sub
ject Of lightning rode, and the means
employed to make them serviceable
There is probably not, on the average
more than one rod in q thousand that
is not positive danger to the property
ON which it is erected, from tie fact
that it is so constructed and attached
to the building that it seems to draw
the bolt OF lightning to it, while it does
not allow it to escape; aud buildings
go provided are in far greater danger
of being struck by lightning than those
unprovided With rod. In fact, so
general had the loss OF houses by
| lightning become, that few years
ago a prominent insurance company
declined in the policy to assume the
losses arising from fire by lightning
upon buildings provided with what is
commonly called lightning rods. Again
the country ia iull OF strolling sharpers,
who can scent new building as far as
a hound can detect game, and by
means of some patent humbug will
assume. for large compensation, to
protect building from damage by
lightning. Not one in thousand OF
them knows any more OF the laws that
govern electricity than the rod itself
and when it is up il affords about as
much protection to building as a last
ye.r's pumpkin vine laid along the
shingles. That rods can be construct
and attached to building in such a
manner as to protect it from all ordln-
ary strokes OF lightning hardly admits Of
a question. The first thing 10 considered
is the rod itself The beat material for a
lightning rcd is three-quarter-lnch iron
rods. Any blacksmith can make one
and any farmer can put one up. Take
the rods aud link them together, taking
care to have the joint close with as
little epace for the links to play in a.
possible. 1t would be better to weld
the rods together, but as the difficulty
is greater in putting up a continuous
than jointed rod, the bars or rods
may be linked or hooked together.
Another method is to cut a thread in
the ends Of the rods and screw them
into a nut, letting the two ends meet
| in the center. This is perhaps the
best of the three plans, "a, with a
wrench, the rod can be taken. apart
easily. Ii is essential that the connec-
ton lie continuous from the point tc
the extreme end. Copper is a better
conductor OF electricity than iron, in
about the ratio OF its increased cost
The iron is the stiffest, and on the
whole IS the best for general use, al
though it may corrode below the sur
face OF the ground, but the renewal o.
that section Of the rod once in five
years will cost only few shIllings.
The length OF the rod above the
peak Of the roof is matter OF some
importance. 1t is said that Lightning
has never been known to strike within
a distance from the rod twice al
great as the height OF the rod above
the building; or, in other words roc
will protect q circular space whose
diameter is four times as great as tbt
height OF the rod. Thus barn forty
feet long will be protected by rod IL
the middle OF the root running up ter
feet. At the base end the rod should
be placed In the ground at depth o
at least seven feet, or down to poln
sufficiently low to insure its Away
being 10 moist soil. 1t should also res
in a bushel or more OF broken charcoal
: From this knowing the height required
above the roof and the number o. Tee
REQUIRED to be in the ground 1t ID easy Il
estimate the length OF rod for az.
bulldog. The point of the rod ehouI'
be sharp, and to prevent any DANCE
: from dust it would be better 10 us
one made of copper and screwed on
Rv this mean. oxidation is avoided an,
a good sharp points always presented
It need not be polished one: AS .
the supports, wood is the best; tn
only requisite being that the rod ls hei
firmly. The complicated iusuIator
made Of glass, held in an iron cissE
are OF no value. In case OF rain tn
slass becomes wet, then becoming
GOOD conductor OF the electrity, whic
has but to follow the iron clasp Q
staple to reach the building. Nothln
can be better than wooden holders
they are cheap, durable, and easil
made. One way is TO take hall
oval piece of plank, about eight inche
wide at the widest place, and bore
hole large enough for the rod to pas
through an inch fir ON the curved edg
and fasten this support TO the aide an
D roof of the building. Another way
to fssten clest to the building an
mortlce to it an arm with hole 10
for the rod. For a support for the 70
at the chimney, make a frame TO Mt IL
!. chimney snugIy and fix the bracket
,s arm to it. Where there is no chin
a. new, as upon barn. braces OF WOO
e NAV be SET up to stiffen the rod
is The essentials of a safe rod may
,e stated as follows:
Il The rod must be sunk to cons;an
d " moist earth at the bottom:
2 Unjust be connected througho
er While il ia not essential that the rod
u of one piece, yet it there be more tina
It one section in the rod they must con
W in contact.
re 8, 1t must he pointed at the top.
1.,. r;sa half as high abO'