The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1874-08-11

put up as they are by the itinerant pedlars,
they do not afford much protection. To be
of any service whatever, good metallic rod
should run directly from the point above
the building without turns, except such as
are unavoidable, into the ground. 1t is
claimed by some that they should be in
sulated throughout their entire length by
coating with non-conducting substance,
or wrapping like an ocean cable. But in
sulation is of less consequences than direct,
smooth and uninterrupted course OF the
rod. Ifthis be secured, the electric current
will not be likely to leave it tor another
course. The glass insulalors used at the
points of fastening, are of very trifiing inn
portance. because being wet in the rain
they become conductors, but still
more because they are Inadequate to in
sulste in the presence Of such discharge as
is delivered by a cloud. But the fatal in
trinity of the ordinary lightning rod is that
It is inadequate to conduct the quantity OF
electricity discharged from storm cloud
It is due to this fact that the bolts often
| leave the rod and crash through the house
at random. It would be as reasonable to at
tempt to discharge river of water through
roof cutters without running over as the
tremendous charge of electricity often con-
tanned in the cloud over small rod:or strip
of copper. At some times it might suffice,
but not when such awful charges are sent
down "a characterized the late storms. This
is the common but vital error N talking
about lightning rods. which the
informed fail to take into account. Turn
heavy current upon a small wire and it
viii either melt the wire or leave it. In the
rod running along the side of. the house the
current will be diverted at some point and
dash about promiscuously. 1t must be re-
membered that a charge of electricity from
a common machine for experiments and a
thunder cloud are somewhat different. The
one is gentle rill and the other is an over
whelming cataract. And the ordinary rod
is no better, practically, than No. 3 wire,
or hair spring of watch, were it long
enough would be. The best possible prOtec-
ton of house against lightning is tin roof
amply supplied with metallic connections
with the ground by the water conductors, or
otherwise Insulation is of secondary inn
portance, abundant conduction is every
thing. The rod business is chiefly hum
bug and swindle, as carried on by the deal
ers. All their noise about costly points,
peculiar kind of rod as to form and metal,
are stuff and nonsense, and in majority or
cases the rods are so applied a. to increase
the danger to the building. A hundred
other statements and theories of the voluble
agent are as absurd as their authors are
ignorant, such as rods attracting electricity
at a distance four times its length from
the ground, the efficacy of platinum
or gilt points, the particular mode of fasten-
ing and The like. The subtle action of the
invisible element called electricity, the i'm
perfect knowledge of its laws by the mass of
the people, and the fearful mischief it
works, make the protection business rich
field for a certain class of men whose eff
frontery and avarice are out of all proper
ton with their knowledge and honesty. Is
it advisable to put up lightning rods? If the
proprietor himself understands the subject
and can direct how 1t should be done, yes.
If not, and big pile of money is asked to
string rods like grapevines over and around
buildings, running, as is often the case,
along the ridge of roof from one end to the
other, no. On the whole, the protection af-
forded by the vast amount of rodding that
has been done or will be done in the State at
and life would be nearly as safe if the rods
were all taken down, and i'm many cases
more so.