The daily Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1878-1???, 1884-06-27
Safety Against Lightning.

The lightning, in striking any build
! inc, tree, or other high object, is
simply seeking a passage TO the moist
earth, says writer in the Portland
transcript, aud it will fluid and take
the best conductor only when better
one is wanting, and only till better
one can be reached. All metals are
good conductors, living animals are
tolcrably good, much better than dry
wood or air-moist wood, the SCOT in
chimneys, or any moist substance are
better than air.
Buildings that are piped throughout
for water or for gas are already well
protected against danger to people
within, for if the'pipes extend above
the rooms, no lightning that may strike
the house will seriously affect the per-
sons within. 1t will find the pipes if
any are in the locality of the discharge,
and pass through them silently to the
earth. For this reason, but few peo-
pie in city houses are killed by light
ming, though the top of the building
may be shattered.
A lightning-rod, as ordinarily con-
structed, may be a partial protection,
but owing to the fact that they gener-
ally are stuck only few feet, or some
times inches, in the comparatively dry
earth, they are not to be depended
upon.
The most simple and reliable method
of protecting building that is piped
or, Tor ~ IL IN u
about the roof such as tin-roOf water
conductors, fancy iron work, ETC., by
means of q one-quartcr-inch copper
wire soldered TO the roof metal and to
the nearest water or gas pipe. 1t is
well, also, to have piece of copper
wire extended up any chimney or high
point on the roof, the lower end con-
Meeting with the tin roof or the main
wire leading to the pipe. These wires
can safely pass down through the
building, for, as before stated, light
ming will not leave such conductor
for poorer one. Glass insulators on
lightning rods are Of no use; if the rods
are in poor condition the discharge of
electricity will not leave them for the
house, and if the rods are not all right,
it will leave them at point nearest a
better conductor, no matter how much
| glass may intervene.
| If the gas, instead of water, pipe is
to be used as the lower terminal of the
protecting wire or rod, the connection
should be made at point between the
meter and street, as the meter may at
some time be removed, and thus sever
the metallic connection.
In building not supplied with pipes,
the large copper wire should extend tc
all high points, and connect with al
large quantities of metal about the
roof. as in the former case, with it!
lower end attached to quantity o
old metal of any kind equal to % o.
80 square feet of surface, we'll buried il
the moist earth This wire can alst
, safely pass down through the building
or be "stapled' to any convenient par
of the house. A large building SHOULD
have more than one wire passing to tn
earth.
Iron rods can be used, but they mus
be about four times the size of cope
TO be equally as good, and are harde
to bend and solder
Do not suppose that because waite
pipes are named your connection ma
be made with pipe passing only to
cistern in the house. A considerable
extent of metal surface in permanently
moist earth is the only proper connoc
ton for the rod or conductor.
A metallic connection between the
tin roof of Il railroad car and the axle
would prevent injury to passengers by
lightning.
Telephone and telegraph wires are a
protection rather than otherwise, for
their ends connect with the earth. A
building over which q sufficient mum
Der of such wires pass to conduct ;
large quantity OF electricity would bt
protected.
We should not try to insulate our
selves by putting glass knobs on on
chairs, or sleeping on feather beds
But take the opposite course, and civ
the electric current substantial
ample, and easy passage to the deeE
moist earth.