The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1876-10-06
MISCELLANY.
Why Large Cities Escape Thunder
bolts.
[From the Piow and. Psn.l


tFrom the Piow and. Psn.l
We have long been Of the opinion
and have occasionally expressed IL, that
The rsason Why large cities, especially
American cities that are literally sup
plisd with water and gas pipes made Of
iron. and running from the upper floors
Of houses into the earth and conmuni-
eating with still larger pipes from
which ihsir contents are supplied, owe
immunity from destructive thundsrbolts
70 the conducting power Of these and
other metallic agencies employed in
such buildings. The iron thus used
might night not serve as an infsllible
protection against lightning were il not,
perhaps, for the additional agency Of
the hundreds Of miles Of telegraph
wires that pass along the caves Of houses
in . large uumbsr Of the most public
thoroughfsrss, and occasionally even
cToss their roof, or are conveyed at such
elevations ns 90 capture the fugitive
lightning and materially equalize its
di.tribution before il can Concentrate A.
any given point.
The ratr.b!s miis' OF Iail.Jai
rachs uhi-t. o. i.sa ye.r, btsF line
sire extended over ropui1u- streets, nn-
d5ubisdiy contribute b. ihi, means Of
difsusing slec,fici,y snd rendering il
hatnisss. II ihis Iheory be correct, sv-
cry hou-s built % iron, OF into the cos
siruciion Of which iron largely enter.
would need no other lightning rod but q
mere point long enough 10 afford the re.
quirite protection to the area covering
the roof. IL made Of non-conductins
material, and another short rod attached
10 the lower portion Of the iron sdi6cs
10 carry of the electricity into the earth
II, indoed, that would be necessary un'
der the circumstances. The introd uctior
Of telegraph wires, rail tracks, gas and
water pipes, into city houses, as well al
the construction Of large warehouses
and workshops Of iron, co-Ipcident witt
The disappearance Of deaths or the dis
continuance Of serious losses Of property
BY lightning, is an impressive if not I
startling fact; and whether propter ho
or only 3 post hoe, is, in . scientific poin
Of view, entitled 70 serious considera
iion.
SO fully we're We struck with the mo
nsntous importance Of she deduction
drawn from ihis coincidence, or conse
qusnos, or whatever il may be, ths
when there Was in this city disposition
10 require the telegraph companies
convey their wires underground, "
foresaw q contingency that might d.
prive us Of one OF our most potent safe
guards against the destructive effects {
Heavens artillery" and hinied at th
possible dangers we might invoke BY il
sisting on that change.
Several years observation, durin
which no deaths nor any serious destru'
tion Of property have happened With
the sphere Of the conducting power (
any ofths metallic agencies in question
has tended 70 confirm our belief on th
subject, and although church steeple
fsg-staffs and the apices Of triangul,
sky-lights have felt the electric fury
passing thunder clouds, their positio
has been 90 far above the range of q
conducting influence Of the ielesrap
wires, ~ 70 deny them any advantaJ
from THAI source Of protection, and IL
circumstances Of tho fluid combining
fury TO the point struck, and ilvolvir
no other contiguous non conducting o
ject In the demolition, would tend
still further confirm our theory. thst tf
srrntie lightning soon sftorwsrd, car
10 contaet with some Of .hoss numsro
transverse or perps1diculAr metal pip
or wires, thst ins,anily robbed il Of
force by accomplishing its diffusion, a,
ul,imsi..Y delivering is, without furtb
dsssisr, 10 ihe ares, ierressrisl mssn'