Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-06-10
THE SHATTERED CApsroNE
How to Protect the Monument From
Lightning.

AAO~ ~ HEOtcCt the MOnument FROM
Lightning.
THE VIEWS OF THE COMMITTEE THAT IN
sPEcTED THE SHAFT-wHAr OTHER sCrEN-
fists AND EXPERTS SAY.
TIE commission of scientists, consisting of
froi. Rowland, of Johns Hopkins university;
ffoi. SIMON Newcomb, superintendent OF the
Nautical Almanac, and Prof. Meudenhall of
the signal service, who. together with Col.
casey, made a careful examination on Monday
OF the effect of the lightning bolt upon the
washington monument last Friday, with a
view OF taking steps to prevent the recurrence
OF similar accident were unanimous in the
opinion that the provisions for carrying off
electricity in the monument were admirable,
ana tiliit In view of the recent accident the only
cnange desirable is to form additional con-
nectiohs from the lightning rod apparatus in
Inc inferior 10 the exterior of the structure
me committee are preparing their report,
whIcn iney expect to submit to Col Casey in a
day or two. Prof. Mendenhall is making the
first draft of the report which will contain
ms views upon the matter. 1t viii be in
ta n submitted to Profs Newcomb and
rowland, who will either approve il, or
make additional recommendations, and
the hnal report will contain the combined views
Si tn9 .hfee scientists. They may differ in the
9etalls OF the matter. but the members have no
nestahcy In saying that all that can be needed
IL 10 nave additional collective points for the
lghtnlng. This will be done by drilling holes
through the roof stones at different points and
running through them connections from the
Iour copper rods which run to the base of the
calstohe. These projections will not extend
more imam ten inches from the roof, and will be
ohlE quarter of an inch in diameter. 1t is
thougnt that rods OF these dimensions will not
be visible with the naked eye and will not there
face.
WHAT PROF. NEwCoMB SAYS.
froi Newcomb when asked about the acct
dent said "there Is nothing to be said beyond
What has already been stated. The committee
1ouno That the damage amounted to very little
ana thaf 1t can be readily repaired, and the best
practicable method will be adopted to prevent
SUCH an accident in the future. The lightning
aUc nppratus seemed all that could be desired
except exc Tor this unforeseen occurrence. The de-
ieet III the precautions taken against lightning
MILD WI, PROBABLY be repaired by furnishing add-
uohai tips for receiving the electricity upon the
exterior and conveying it to the interior appa-
ratuS.
PROF. MENDENHALLS OPINION.
frof Mendenhall. when asked by a SRAR re-
porter about the matter, said: after a careful
examination of the subject / am of the firm
opinion that nothing better adapted for carry
ing off electricity than the anparatuS in tho
monument could be devised. Indeed but for
the recent accident the whole combination
would seem perfect. In view OF that accident
however, l ana firmly of the opinion that the
Interior lightning rod apparatus was too good
ior the exterior In other words, there was not
SUFFICIENT collective point. The monument IL
Sell ends IN this small aluminium tip which
was not sufficient to attract and carry OF the
elecirlcitS, While there was much more pow
erlui attraction beneath the exterior of the
structure. There is but little probability of such
an accident again, but the easiest way to avoid
nf tho |" ,, nuIisn otner points than that
W me aluminium tip, which will re-
ceiVe the electricity and conduct it to the app,-
ra!us within, which am sure is capable of ear
rylng OFT readily all the lightning that might
be accumulated in years. In view of the cir
cu1nStanceS, that seems the only change nd yisa-
pie 10 secure protection for the structure Invent
"a tl ff,.,,
lnere was not a sign of any damage in the inte-
rlor The copper rods, which extend from the
IRON columns around the elevator to the can
stone, are now being moved more to the center
OF the interior. In view Of the proposed change
these rods will not be desirable in too close
proximity to the roof. Some of the men are
satlshed that the monument was shaken by the
lISntnlng bolt, although l am satisfied that
such was not the case in reality. They could
readily have been deceived, under the circrln-
stances. 1t is my intention to place one or two
seismoscopes up in the monument, which are
lhSenlouSiy -contrived mechanical apparatus,
Whlch VIII show the extent of any such move
ment, II any, and register it accurately 1t can
be learned then whether the structure moves
curing gale, an earthquake, or a stroke of
LSntnlnS, ana the extent of such q notion
TALK WITH COL. CASEY.
Col. Casey said the provisions for preventing
damage by lightning seemed to lack nothing
and yet the bolt of last Friday went crashing
through the roof. 1t is difficult to tell what
caused it to do so, instead of passing off by the
means prepared Weknow that those means are
good, for early last April several lightning bolts
were distinctly seen to strike the top OF the mon
ulnent without the slightest damage the eiec-
trlcity having been harmlessly conducted TO
the ground Why Fridays bolt did not follow
Inc same course seems rather ineXplicabe.
Scientists can handle electricity which they
nave generated very inteliigently, but when
they come to manage the lightning bolts from
heaven, which they only partly COMPREHEND
they are at loss and can only act bv eyDe,
Renee The scientists who have examined the
no ai,ni. rt,..+
interior apparatus is too good for the exterior
and will recommend that rods be projected from
points of the root, which will probably be done
Will not do anything beyond collecting the
copper rods in the center OF the interior until
after the committee has reported. 1 think the
damage very small, but cannot tell lust how
much trouble it Will be to get the roof stone, in
place until lis examined from the outside A few
blows from a mallet may put it in position, and
when riveted with bronze bolts everything will
be all right again. 1t Will be necessary to erect
a staging about the root, and think, too, the
net Will have to be stretched again."
"Do you think the monument was moved bv
the shock? asked THE STAR reporter
Not bit-that is not a bit beyond its elastic
limit. 1t may have vibrated a little. Pull a ram
rod nearly out OF a gun, then benz it a little and
let it go. 1t will vfbrate within elastic limit
and Will resume Its natural shape again. Seis-
moscOpeS VIII be placed in the monument soon
which will register every movement il makes
Probably a wind pressing sixty pounds to the
square loot VIII move the monument slightly.
1t has been computed that wind which
presses 100 pounds to the square foot will cause
the structure to vibrate an inch and quarter
1t would be comparatively easy to protect the
monument from lightning if no regard need be
paid to its external appearance. But nothing
should be allowed to mar its symmetry Large
rods extending down the sides would afford
ample protection, no doubt, but they would
soon corrode, and the white marble would be
stained It's entire length. Ii points are to pro-
ject from the roof they will have to be SO small
as not to be visible from the ground"
PROF. WIN. b. TAYLOR's VIEWS
Prof. VIM. b. Taylor, of the Smithsonian In
stated that he had no theory on
which to explain the recent accident to the
Or to prevent a recurrence. He had
given no attention to the matter beyond what
was in the newspapers. He had not been in
the monument and knew nothing of its con-
struction or its safeguards, and therefore was
not competent to make any explanations or
suggestions. cit was complete surprise to
me-, he said, "that the lightning should have
acted as 1t did. should imagine that all rea-
sOnable precautions had been taken, and the
only natural conclusion is that the inside af-
fOrded stronger attractions to the electricity
than the outside Fl such is the case the rem
edy is simple and there Is but little chance
OF a recurrence"
PROF. THOMAS TAYLOR,
of the Agricultural department, thought that
great care should be taken to connect all metal
bolts or gutterng directly with the interior con-
ductor. He spoke of splre in England forty
or fifty years ago having every stone in it
cracked by the lightning jumping from one me-
tallic joint or seam to the next. He pointed to
the roof of his own house, where three spots
newly shingled attested the jumping procfivi-
ties Of lightning. At points above and on either
side OF a dormer window the shingles had been
torn of, but none of the intervening shingles
were harmed. The explanation offered was
nff ~ 81 insytnS