New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-07-23
LETTERS FROM THE PEOPLE.
no r1CUTyING-RoDs PRoTECTf

GOOD RODS HELD TO BIZ SURE PRoIAClAo"
To tAs Bdttor OF rhs Tr'o"He.
SIR, In The TRIBUNE of the 18TH INST l
rnd n letter from A. R. Morgan, in when NC says
house in Astoria struck by lightning on July IL anu
,o nersons knocked senseless although their injuries
- no, fatal . He saws the house "has metallic
root VEL covered with several coats OF well dried
patnt He also saws the house twas protected tD Dy
what was considered rst-cass lightning rod passing
through glass ring insuaors and held well up from
ooutat with the roof and sides Of the house by rnged
spikes incircng the glass insuators all in good cond
ton" He attributes the Of the house being
struck to incomplete insulation. Now the trouble was
too much insulation IL is not necessary that metal
should have q good ground connection, as ne
says this rod had, 10 be a receiver Of Lightning,
but 10 should have a good ground connection 10 DC
a good conductor. Now why was the house injured
Because there receivers Of lightning and only
one conductor The lightning struck one Of the seXe-
raj points" and followed the rod down near the methc
roof. when 1t left tine rod and went on me ro9i, oe
the best receiver Il then followed the metallic rooi
down 10 the cage OF the ROOF because .e ,1it soi
low the cline Of resistance" FROM the cage OF
the roof OF the house. because tue mouse Dens
conductor poor one, Du eohtuS'Or S ia
theless. After coming IN contact Win the W0ou anu
tmbers OF house which are conductors, unless the
wood Is thoroughly dried II went wherever he lumber
conducted 3, until II came 70 better one WAloh was
the wall which was damp, am against Shcn he says
the two persons we're leaning that were mi Ired.
II there had been no insuiatOrs on the house the
would have drawn back 70 the rod again ana then
gone u the ground without dong any damage Mt
be clos,c.i as ezra l7zsrious q" Time was when
should have answered Yes" Out cannot answer so
now. have read great deal about rods, ana from
what nave been able 20 learn from books ana from
Obserya ion. and have watched tins th1g closely
am thoroughly convinced that lightning RODS not
piece OF meta! stuck on top on 1uidns are sure pro
tec.or,. READER OF TIE TRIBUNE.
Sastua y. H. Iilv d, 1874.
THE CASE ~ ASTORIA.
TT,
SIR: The letter which l will try to answer
SPEAKS Of house struck by lightning in Astoria two
persons knocked seusesss 81. Tle winter raises the
question whether lightning rods are dangerous OF pro-
tective in their influence. I saw the building
two days after struck examined the rod ana me
damage done. The rod was not a nrst-eass lightning
ROD as the wr'cr calls 1t. It put up 10 hrst
class manner. I, was nothing but common black iron
when lad been 10 position aoout eleven years as the
owner told m, and was perfectly covered with rust
lightning only travels the surface 81 metal ana rust
OF paint covering the same Injuries the conductive
power I Go not believe that tins rod spoken o. was
struck 40 all Tie EItln- came III through the WIN
dow which 1gI being Influenced Pos the current OF
air ana the two persons by this window were injured
The lightning according 20 my theory, then followed
the open door up through the NALL where IL found
good conductor the copper 5ei-Vire, about SIX teet
loug Il rau o that 0ut did not .njure IT, only damag
Ing things that not good conductors such as 'ne
door panel, which pane Of glass. In respect 10
the term is-j-ea-s -AmIu- rod Will say that there
a.e some very opinions I'D regard TO tins mat
ter. d.st-a~s lightning rod must oe made Of copper
A. best conductor of AL metals Except silver
Galvanized iron De- the next best conductor 80 mat
TINS r1l spoken of tine mousse l dl-cas is not So IL
the uut -Ilc surface all covered Vu rust now much
more injured must Pc 10 tAe ground when IL las Oeen
buried lyI ~ wears.
Nj MOtgaus tneorv OF incomplete insulation shows
that ue is Lot Wei. posted ID the laws Oi electricity He
claims -ltuu- passed off from the r1d 10 the
an roof Jrcausr Insulation not perfect. Il That
lie peu GO save tine building Tor GAIhn -
f4rIu-h tu roof lt helps the i'l 20 llN-
tribute the electricity, and 10 s wrong % lnSuiate I'm
roof building There iS NO Insulation used on
any of the large building IN NeW-Iorh ArcAltects
that unItr. taud their business wound not Allo" H.
Take fuI example Tie Herdt building, A L. stewart :
retail store. H. IS. Clau,I',. and other bUIulIgs
Aeb York, July -, 1874. l. W.