Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1882-06-08
Protection from LIGHTNING.

In EagIin1 where lrly all social II terary
and political problems are made the subjec. OF
special inquiry ana discussion by Societies estab-
llshed for the express purpose Of considering them,
They have lately enjoyed the advantages OF Light
ming Roi Conference. Tnis somewhat novel body
was composed OF accredited delegates from the
Meteorological Society, the Royal Institute OF
British Architects, the Physical Society, and
the Society OF Telegraph Engineers, respect
lively, and the purposes OF its existence,
It need hardly be said, was to consider
theories, TO make experiments, and, fnlliy, to
frame 4 code OF recommendations on the subject.
II Is hardly to be expected that anything new
could be brought out at this late day, even by the
most scientific of investig at0rs; but the work OF
the conference seems to have been thorough, and
Its recommendations would appear to be entitled
TO weight, from the fact that they are based on
patient and intelligent research aided by reliable
experience and exhaustive experiments
Touching the upper terminal point of the rod,
the report advises that instead OF being carried to
fine point, as Is usual, it should preserve its full
size nearly 10 the extremity, and be merely bev-
elled on. For the purpose, however, OF utilizing
the power OF sharp points TO draw on silent dis
charges OF electricity, it IS suggested that at
distance OF one foot below the extreme top there
be firmly attached, by screws and solder, copper
ring, bearing three or four copper needless each six
inches long and tapering from a diameter OF
quarter OF an inch to as fine point can be
made, each TO be platnZed, gilded or nickle
plated All vanes, finals or other ornamental
iron work on the upper portion OF a building
should be metalically connected with the conduc-
tor As TO the material for rods. copper is pre-
ferred to iron, not because it is better con1uctor
as is usually thought, but chiefly because it is less
likely to be made useless by rust. Bad joints
must be carefully avoided, as they tend to make
the conductor a source OF danger rather than
measure OF protection. OF course perfect inSu-
lation must be provided, and good earth connec-
ton must In all cases be secured. Iron water ami
gas mains answer an excellent purpose, but
connections should never be made with lead pipes
on account of danger of melting. Where iron
pipes not used the lower end Of the rod should
be soldered to plate OF the same metal as itself,
having an area of not less than a square yard,
and the hole in which this plate is sunk must be
so deep that the earth surrounding the plate shall
be moist even in the driest weather AS to the
height OF the rod, the conference recommended
that 1t should be carried to such elevation that
cone having its verteX at the upper terminal, and
It's sides sOping at forty-fve degrees, would en-
close the whole building, as much Of it as this
particular rod is required to protect
These few and simple recommendations seem to
contain nothing very new very profound but they
may be regarded as embodytng the opinions of
probably the highest authority that has ever con-
sidered the subject in so formal and thorough
follow the plain directions 1t lays down will be
about as safe from casualties by lightning as
human ingenuity can make them