Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-08-14
Where Lightning Strikes.

An article in the August number OF Lippiu-
cOtFS magazine gives The following useful in
formation In regard to the construction OF
lightning rods:
Alter the most careful and extended inquiry
possible to him it is the writer's conclusion that
In nearly every case of serious damage by light
ming TO building having conductors of any
well known system except the horizontal
Which is not 3 conductor at all In the usual
= hse OF the word) the failure TO protect has
N en on account OF dcT,ctiGe ground con trc-
ton. The TACT is the more surprising as this
col.nection is so much within conCroi.
AID Is the least costly part OF the sys-
ltIn: This fault has arisen from the failure
or lfghIning-rod men, as Well "a owners
OF buildings, to apprehend what constitutes
q ground connection Tor electricity. Ii the
eye sees the end OF the conductor pass a
short distance beneath the surface, all the con-
nectlcn Necessary is thought to be effected,
m cause The ground is always wet enough tn q
hover" IL, the cities it is customary 10 con-
II Ct he rcd with the water or gas pipes ia the
street, which makes the conduc;ion perfect. In
HI ab-fnce OF these tt is best TO carry the rod
{" a vel: AID II j. always desirable TO enlarge
The lower end Of the conductor, which may be
done by soldering Ii there to sheet Of copper.
IL tie termination of the line cannot be carried
TO well, 1t should be deeply buried in a bed of
coke or charcoal that has been subjected to a
red heat.
A season or two ago. a large barn In the VI
entity Of Boston was struck By lightning, and
though there were rods at three OF the four cor
nerS three kline were killed by the discharge.
The barn stood upon the side of a HILL having a
cellar and sub-cellar, the bottom OF the last be-
Ing very moist. An OK stood In one corner, a
COW in another and heiter ct the third, and
each received fatal stroke. On examination.
II was found that the rods entered the ground TO
the depth OF only about one foot, and the soil,
being dry. perfectly insulated them. Conse-
quently. on the way TO damp earth, the cur
rents Jumped to the nearest Conductors, which
happened TO be these unfortunate animals. In
placing conductors, 1t must not be forgotten
that dry earth In general is not a conductor.
Neither will any small quantity or surface
water serve to check the rage of the electric
stroke. unless there is a connection OF moisture
With the mass Of moisture below the SOIL.
The depth to which lightning may penetrate
before II is so disSipated to lose its dangerous
character is shown by the fulguriteS or Eight
ming tubes sometimes found In sandy soils
Their formation has been concluSiyely traced
10 disruptive electrical discharges from the
clouds, which have melted the sand by the
intense heat generated In passing through TO a
moist earth. These tubes generally divide into
prongs, like parsnep, as they descend. The
inner surface is smooth and very bright. 1t
scratches glass and strikes fire as flint. They
are sometimes found three inches In external
diameter, and extending to a depth OF thirty
feet. In one instance, tVe OF these tubes were
found ia single hill.