The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-08-15
LIGHTNING RODS.

rSl> az present upon our buildings i Of
snv use fgr tire simple reason that the To@ls
arr nat led into moist ground, and there
fore. offer gre4t resistance 70 the passage
II an electrical discharge. Such l. the
diefuTl ii john Troabridge. in an article
unfinished III TIE last number of scienes.
When II ! remembered how lersistently
tile Ifelituing-rod fiaDd attacks the jewellers
in small towns and IN the country, more
ESPECIALLY in the Western States. and how
successful he i in Iersuading people u
INT up his system Of rods and points. it i
evident that L Mr. TroRbridge's assertion
s. correct. large amount Of money must
Iss expended u>slessiy. except in - far a.
il benefits electrical quaeks. just as the
bubble J. slow u Learn that not every man
Hha practices medicine possesses the ne
sfu5SItss know ledge, - Il i slow to learn
that th.. maine ii electrician does not prove
know le,l-e i electricity: and just a. the
-uUlie. 70 . great extent. looks upon the
Druggist a. a kind Of doctor. 80 docs it
ls9k upon the lightning rod agent a a
sind d electrical expert
II. TroN bridge ASSURES u that one
li.l4tliili--rtsi company placed lightning
r,sls shaped ike letter L upon the rcofs
If lsoi~s.. upgn tlie baeele>s theory that
Il liz lightning struck one point Of the [
II would be dissipated into tie air from the
,ffs ste l.esuf. For a hearty condemna-
tsql u this arrangement an American pro-
ks3r 81 physics wa recently sued for
damage. Is tie c0HlaHy-damages for
t-asa-tellins. Another company. in Mas
/ ,4eafs~. It. la an electrician who needs
a8t and possesses not works On electricity.
With . foF.ed Stick a diyining nd, he
hunts for --ear1h-c1lrnntS. and. should he
hud osIe lse pr5nounees tlaat lightning
RAJ : needed by the house near it. If lie
finds NJ such current he pronounees the
. is.fs-e io De safe Whether he often arrives
at Tia latter conclusion we are not told.
Hos zatiable seems the ignorance Of those
tho loo~e their purse-strings because
+ stick. held IN tie hands Of an interested OF
crater. point. u : fancied riyulet OF cleo
tr.city
/ Tie ,l,. If lightning i based not
F o,llv on Franklin's weIl-known experiment
+ but Oh that Of Far4day. who showed that
+ powerful discharges OF electricity between
. metallic cage properly connected with
the ground. and an electrical machine were
llot only without effect upon person stand
+ ms, in tie cage. but were unmarked by the
+ most delicate electrical Instruments within
i y metallic netting placed over build
+ ing would be an efficient protection. The
nearest approach Il this j. to connect all
the tin sheathing. the copper cutters. the
gas and water pipes with the lightning-rod
and 10 conduct the latter by the shortest
+ curse lns>ibIe to nd auth Mr.. Trow-
+ bridge tells MS that with a couple Of gal
yanie cells and wire II is easy to prove
that when lightning-rod ent.rs dry earth,
+ there l. considerable resistance to the pas
+ -ase Of electricity. When all the metallic
+ conductors Of house communicate with
+ the lightning conductor and the latter
+ with wet Garth the danger from thunder
+ storms j. reduced 10 a minimum. \ Sill
a.e Il Iephone or telegraph wire entering
+ house may be source Of danger but the
rs, disappears if the wire is connected
( with the gas or water pipe. Above-ground
w.rts are a peots ction to the buildings near
+ them
With regard 10 the Use Of Iightning-rods
our authority tells inquirer, If your
. house j. surrounded by tall trees, or if
f there are higher houses in your immediate
neielsborilood trust 10 the trees or kindly
f leave the expense Of the lightning-rods TO
your neighbor. Ifyour house stands alone.
a prominent point in the landscape. or re
ID IL from trees place Two or
three pointed rods three or four feet above
Tie highest point Of the house allow the
metallic rod, which should be at least one
. half square inch IN section, to rest, with
ont glass in>Hlators. upon the house. and
lnuec5 a. before stated, all III IA! work