Litchfield enquirer., 1877-03-22

cy which is remandiag the Carpet Bag gers and the Oamerons to tothessback-seats" they so richly deserve
 Concerning Lightning Rods,
 There can be no doubt as to the fact that Franklin alone was the inventor of the lightning-rod, and that it left his hands in nearly as perfect condition as It stands. to-day. Notwithstanding the>manv existing patents for alleged ''improve- mentsYin lightning rods, property protect ed by a rod.constructed according to the directions of the original inventor would be quite as secure from damage by light ming, as when embellished by any of the various devices whose manufacture is protected by the seal of the U. s. Patent office. Undoubtedly, during the last fifty years, we have learned something about the mode of action of rods, and of the points which require attention in the en- deavor to secure perfect safety, but ex- animation will show that Franklin's old rod embodies all the points necessary for a perfect lightning conductor, and there fore, in this matter, we are not at all at the mercy of any of the protected monopolies.
 The question is often asked, "Doight- ming rods furnish any protection to life and property ?" It is certainly true that there are on record many instances of buildings, furnished with rods, having been struck and injured. But it can be shown that at least two.thirds of the rods now in service the fundamental principles upon which their efficiency depend are violated. Besides grave errors iB their management and continuity, it is seldom that good ground connection is secured. St. Peter's Cathedral in Geneva, strnct- ure much more elevated that any of the buildings in it's neighborhood, has for three centuries enjoyed perfect immuni- ty, while the tower of St. Gervaise, a much lower building in the same town, has been struck. This doubtless arises from the fact that all the towers of St. Pe- ter's are unintentionally provided with very perfect conductors in their metal work. The Monument in London, erect ed in 1877, and more than 200 feet in height, has never been struck, while the much lower buildings of the vicinity have not escaped. A more remarkable instance of the protection derived from lightning rods is afforded by the church on the Or sina estate in' Carinthia. This structure which was situated upon an eminence has been so often struck by lightning. that it was not considered safe to celebrate ser vice within its walls. A single stroke in 173O destroyed it's entire steeple; after it had been rebuilt, it was struck on an average four or five times a year, saying nothing of the extraordinary storms in which it struck from five to ten times in single day, In 177s the church was re- built and furnished with conductor, and during the next five years was visited only once by lightning. and this stroke fell upon the conductor without produc- ingtse slightest damage.
 lightning rods should be made either ofscopper or iron. Other metals, though possessing perhaps greater con ductivity are too costly No advantage is obtained. by com bining the two metals. The size of the rod is matter of importance. It should be large enough to carry off the heaviest discharge ever likely to fall upon it. No instance has ever occurred in which bar of iron, some yards in length, and having a section of one sixth of an inch, has been raised to red heat by lightning. Hence a square rod of iron, whose sides measure four tenths of an inch, has been adopted by the French Academy of Science. Thus it is shown that the enormous conductors recommended by Henry and others are un- necessarily expensive and clumsy. If a copper rod is used the dimensions may be reduced to one fourth of an inch for each side. Nothing is gained by having the
 dimensions greater than above stated. The various patented forms of rod are not of the least consequence, but some l what flattened form is most convenient.
 The many twisted, starred and tubular
 forms are vaunted by their patentees and agents on the ground that they present
 "more surface with less metal," and that
 electricity always resides on the sur face." tis true that static electricity
 ct rest does dispose itself upon the sur
 face of those bodies which are charged
 with it, but anyone who knows any
 thing whatever of the subject of
 electricity, knows also shat elec-
 tricity in motion pervades the entire substance of the conductor through which
 it passes, and consequently the conduc- tivity of bar must be measured by the
 amount of surface which if presents. Pouiellet measured the conducting power l of & cylindrical wire, then fattened and annealed it and tested t again. Its sur 16C0 was b4ub 0uOEuOuSlt lu0E0dSo0, Ultt it's conductivity was somewhat lessened; this diminution being due to the fact that the fattening process somewhat length ened the wire and consequently diminish. ed it crosa-section.
 Itis q most absurd error to believe
 that lightning rods must be carefully in-
 sulated from the buildings to which they
 are attached. The glass insulators so I constantly seen are not onlx worthless but
 positively dangerous It is not to 'be
 supposed that thunderboit which
 will pass through a hundred
 feet of air would be deterret
 from passing from rod to a building by
 an inch of glass. Lightning rods should
 be connected with all masses of metals il I or mon the house euch as 0utters pines