Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1880-07-30
lightning Rods.

lightning Rods.
s.
An esteemed friend in Powhat .S,ounty
Va, Mr.. Geo. McLaurlne, calls Oh US for
an article on lightning rods, telling US that
the county is overruR by agents, that they
are carrying off vast quantities OF money,
and saying that he has been ''silly enough
to have one erected over his house," He
backs his request by illusions to. ourself
SO complimentary that there is nothing
left us but compliance with his wish.
Both experience and knowledge of the
laws and properties of electricity the
lightning of the clouds demonstrate the
utility Of lightning rods. We will mem
ton two very simple experiments, which
are conclusive on the matter at issue. Q)
if we hold a piece of glass Ia non-conduc-
tory and an iron nail Ia good conductor)
near the knob of the prime conductor of
an excited electrical machine, the spark
will always pass to the conducting body,
and this will take place even when the
distance Of the conducting body is two or
three times greater than that of the nom
conducting body. ~ When sparks are
freely passing to your knuckles held an
inch, say, from the knob Of the prime con-
ductor, they will cease the moment a poin-
ted metallic body-a knife-blade or needle
lis brought within three or four inches
of the knob. Upon darkening the room,
faint stream of light is seen connecting
the pointed body and prime conductor.
Now, these experiments prove that cleo
tricity seeks good conductors, and is 81
lently carried off by points. Why these
results ensue, is easily explained by the
known properties of electricity; but the
facts are what we want. To 60 into the
philosophy Of the fact is, perhaps, undesir-
able, and would lead us from the purpose
in hand.
Now, the lightning rod protects ~ be-
cause it is good conductor, ~ because
it is nearer the cloud than the house. (S)
because it is pointed. The rod, if proper
ly constructed, is certain to receive the
discharge from the cloud, if one passes;
but its general action is silently to drain
the clouds of their electricity, preventing
that tension which causes the discharge,
just as, in the experiment alluded to, the
electricity passed in tiny, invisible streams
from the knob to the needle point, and SO
vanished as fast as produced.
We prefer the solid rod from fve-eighths
to three fourths Of an inch in diameter
It should be carried far enough into the
earth to reach permanent moisture. If
into each other, be certain there is no
break of continuity. There is no danger
in connecting the rod to the house by me-
tallic tastenings. The earth and clouds
are in opposite electrical states, and, as
unlike electricities attract each other, the
flash leaving the cloud seeks the earth by
the easiest route, and that route is by the
rod buried deep in the earth. The pro-
tective power Of the rod is estimated as
follows: 1t protects circle whose radius
is twice the length of the rod above the
house. For example. if the rod rises ten
feet above the house, a circle, OF which
the rod is the centre, twenty feet in diam
eter is protected. Some authorities make
it's protective power somewhat greater
than this.
DR.. Lardner reports the electrical his
tory of large number Of noted houses be-
fore and after the invention of the rod.
Churches, cathedrals, and other public
houses, which before the day Of protectors
were frequently struck and sometimes
greatly injured or destroyed, have been
shown by authentic facts to have been
rendered secure by the erection of rods.
The value of lightning rods in protect
ing life and property is most conspicuous
ly exhibited in inter-tropical regions,
where the displays of lightning are SO much
more frequent and appalling than in tenn
perate zones. Here, indeed, the danger is
comparatively trifling, and is measured
rather by its awful nature than by the fire.
quency of disaster.
The Temple of Solomon stood one thou
sand years in the stormy climate Of Pales-
tine, and was never struck by lightning.
Neither the Bible nor Josephus mentions
such thing, which, ifit had occurred,
would have strongly arrested attention.
Besides, the building was mostly made Of
very combustible material, and. if struck.
must have been set on fire. By circum-
stances apparently fortuitous. it was bet
ter protected against lightning than any
house of modern times with all the helps
of scientific discovery. The roof was thick
~ gilt, and from end to end was surmoun.
ted with iron lances pointed and gilt, sup
posed to have been erected to prevent de-
Element of the roof by birds. Every side
of the house was thickly gilt, and the rain
was conducted from the roof by metallic
pipes into cisterns, where water was con-
stantly on hand to be used in the service
of the temple. Thus we see that the build
ing was armed, not with a few metallic
points, but great many; that these points
were connected, not with a few rods, but
a conducting service as extensive as the
outer surface of the building; and that this
metallic connection was continued, not
into moist earth simply, but into deep Cts
terms that contained water always. It is
1upOSS1Ulo W lAdS1Ao d Mo1o poAAoCu pIo'
tection.-ReIqiops Herald.
| How CROMWELL MANAGE THE Mus
KET.-A correspondent at Montreal sends
the Detroit "Free Pree" copy Of an or
dlnance by Oliver Cromwell, in 1641, regu-
lating the exercises of the musketry. The
| mammal of arms will be of intereS t to mill.
tary men of the present day;
THE LORD GENERAL CROMWELL.