Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1882-03-09
LOCATING LIGHTNING.
System that Generates more Electricity than
the Thunder Clouds.

Cedar Rapids { Ia, } Cor. Nil Republi-
can: Among the swindlers that infest
Iowa are the lightning-rod men, and
the legislature could doyery much worse
than pass law protecting the people
from such fends There is usually a
manager and his gang all of whom
are shrewd, tricky, relentless, dishonest
chaps. Their dirty work is planned by
the manager, and they are not 10th to
perform it, 1t may be interesting to the
public to know something of the manner
in which this business is done. The
agent calls ON farmer, and after using
the various methods to get his .'order, =
or at least get his name TO a piece of
paper, drives away, and the foreman
of the gang" with his men, soon APP
pear on the spot to finish the job. The
order is printed on one side of sheet
of paper about the size of an ordinary
note, and as one of the fraternity who
left the business to engage in something
better (?) gave your correspondent one
of the blank .'orders, itmay be a warn
ing to the farmers of the Northwest to
print it. Ii reads:
Mutual Benefit lightning Rod Company offers
indemnity, security and protection. Order for
thee, erectionof conductors.
Mr., ...,.......:. agent. Sir; Erect OF
.fclyerat your earliest con Fenience or n any
cs.t IA },sTalaed at ~ contents
valued az ..... s..,. 50 ". asystem OF circuit
condnetors 81. point and rods 70 the
groundlaof The copper lightning rod, in 4 proper
and substantial manner, in accordance WITH the
scientific rules set forth on the back Of this or.
der; and viii pay for the same in cash, when
completed o. note due in at the rate of 5,
4 ,sff
rod for each brace; $3.50 for each point 81 50 for
each vanc, and 80 for each bali. sre
i)atcd. -; signed :..., :. >.
Thisis the order, and the unfortunate
signer has given up about all there is in
life worth living. lie has given the
gang orders to put up rod in a
''proper3 and substantial manner
and in accordance with scientific rules
as set forth on the back of the order"
The back of the order reads:
INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE ERECTION OF
RODS.
Patrons are especially directed tc
erect points at each gable and interme-
diate point on the ridge, not exceeding
twenty feet apart, in order to discharge
the accumulated electricity there held
by the attraction of the opposite force
contained in the approaching cloud; al
each chimney or yentilator, to offer a
line of superior conduction 90 that of
fered by current of air. on ascending
smoke; and TO connect all points togeth,
er, with rods from each to the ground
This is a system of circuit conductors.
and will afford full protection. Al
ground rods to penetrate the earth to
constant moisture say from four tc
twelve feet; never to terminate in a els
tern. Our agents are especially en-
joined to see that the conductors arc
erected in circuit form, and in the most
substantial and scientific manner, so a.
to protect all parts of the building, witt
a view to ornamentation, as well a.
protection, for which we hold them re
sponsible. We will pay $4,000 to own
ers of buildings, to which our rods are
attached, in accordance with above di.
rections, in case they fail to protect the
building from damage by lightning
FoREMAN's REPORT