Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1884-09-16

Remarkable Increase IN Their Uso-StOries
About AGENTS.
[Ta!k of Rod-Peddlcr in New York SUM-
"The use of lghtning-rods has in
creased steadily ever since Franklin dis
covered their usefulness There ar
now three large factories, in Philadel
phia, Chicago and st. Louis, which
make all sorts of rods, and there are al
almost infinite number of smaller con
Germs. We manufacture great deal TO-
Mexico, South America and the Yves
Indies In the latter country they wan
the best. l have had to furnish TO
these specially-constructed points o.
tips, heavily plated with platinum, which
cost $50 each. All the tips are sup
posed TO be pointed with platinum OIL
gold-plated, but very often they are
simply brass, or covered with yellow
wash-that is the sort which the ped.
dlcrs very often sell. Good ordinary
tips are worth, manufacturers prices,
81 to 81 each +; iron rods about 5 cents
per foot; copper rods from 6 to 20cents;
ilsulators, or Trimmings at the rate of
from II to2 cents up t, Is cents per
foot on the length of rod employed.
We do not send any lightning-rods to
Europe. The best-protected building
i'll New York, I think, is the new Union
Tongue Club House. The churches of
St. Leo and st. Bernard are also well
rodled. The Cooper Institute is well
supplied with lightning-rods, which
were intelligently provided for in the
original construction OF the building by
the making of small well-hole, from
the roof to the ground, inside of the
olifco-ncar where the elevator now is
through which they run down. The
bcst-rodded private residence l know of
is that of Mr.. Moses Taylor, at Elberon,
near long Branch. 1t was good thing
for both the public and the lightning
rod men when the discovery was made
that lightning always went for angles
aud sharp projections of buildings, so
that rods were required at each corner
to make the house really safe. What
with circuits, four ground connections,
added tips, etc, the bill for rodding a
house ought to be satisfactory to the
man who makes it out, and the results
ought TO satisfy the man who pays it.
"a lightning-rod man came down TO
Uncle Dan'l Drew once, with a note
from some professor at the theological
college that he was interested in, sug-
pe ting that the college should be rod
did. What will it cost? ? asked Uncle
Dan'l. Il cannot say positively said
the man, until have measured it, but
i, may be as much as $500 or, possibly,
even $780, 'Ohl That's all right; go
ahead, said Uncle Danl, and he gave
him written order. The work was
done and the bill was sent in for 81, 900
Uncle Danl declared that he wouldn't
pay it; that the man who took the order
sid it would be only $40O or $500.
All 7 replied the bland gentleman, who
came to collect, I'VE cannot be RESPONSE
Die for the mistakes and bad judgment
of our employees Uncle Dan1 had to
send man to the college to see if they
had actually put up as many feet OF rod
as they claimed. He found the building
overlaid with rods until it looked rs if
it was in big cage. That professor
would not let him dig to see what the
ground connections were, but he did pull
up one ground rod on the sly, and
found OF the bottom of deep hole
eighteen feet of rod coiled up. Uncle
Dnn'I eventually paid the bill, but
never heard of his buying any more
lightning-rods.
"Inever heard of lightning-rod MAI
getting the worst Of job except in one
case, and don't vouch for the truth o.
that. 1t is said that one Of the craft
drove up in front Of fine new anj
large house out West and told mai
WHO was reading at the door that h,
ought to havo lightning-rods on hi.
house. The man said he hadn't though
about it. Then the peddler said. HAY,
Won any objection to my putting up
tod on this corncr9' No. the mai
said, Il have not And, as the ped
ilc,'s wagon WAS right behind him, tn
av"ort climber had the rod up in FEY
minutes. Nov, said he, that oorne
is safe, addressing the man, who wa
still reading; but lightning nigh
come along and knock blanks delight
out of one Of the other corners. Hay,
you any objection to my putting up
rod on each OF themP And the quic
reader looked up from his paper AM
said he hadn't any objection. Whel
the job was done the peddler presenle,
his bill. Whats this Z? said the man
yawning and folding up his paprl
Bill for the rods explained the ped
dior. Rods / didn't order any rods
why, certainly you did Not at nj
only said had no objection 10 You
putting them up. Aud I hadn't. Thi
is the county Court House. l dou
even live in this county. OF course
had no objection"