The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1888-06-29
LIGHrNING ROD MYTHS.

Lightning rods are going out Of use.
Why9 Because they are not believed to
be the protection that it was once thought
they were" This was what an electrician
told a reporter. Fifteen years ago the
~hghtning-rod agent was everywhere in the
land, and more especially at every farmers
door. To-day, it is claimed their number
has materially decreased, and farmers are
disseminating the use OF the rods.
"What is your opinion upon the subject
Walker, of the City Electrical Depart
ment.
"Candidly, in nine cases out of ten" he
replied, 81 think they are hnmbugs. be-
lieve it is a fact that mo barns have been
struck and burned that have lightning-rod
on than with them off. In the first place,
it is best to keep electricity as far away
from a building as possible. The object of
the lightning-rod is to attract it. The rod
is supposed to act as a conductor of the
electrical current to the earth, but, instead
of being carried off, the current, in conse-
quence of faulty construction Of the rod or
attachments, is frequently switched into
the building. The end of the wire is sup
posed to be buried in moist earth. the
moisture acting as n good conductor.
Without strict attention the iron becomes
oxidized and rnsts off, and then the rod is
worse than nothing. 1t is a positive dan
ger under such circumstances, attracting
the electricity OF the atmosphere and nav
ing no adequate outlet for it. Then,
again, the same danger arises when the in
s~ulators upon the sides of the building be-
come defective. The lightning is attract
ed from the atmosphere. where it might
have remained but for the rod, and it is
turned loose against the building on its way
to the earth. II, for instance, the attach
ments on a barn are poor or worn ont the
current may be DETECTED and set fire to the
building. This is no occur
renee. In this city some years ago the rod
on the Belmont Water Works was struck,
and it fused. The current flowed on down
am Hibett tDthtt III liaCfiiiiCll
in the ~liveliest kind Of a way. A big
stone was knocked off the Washington
monument by lightning. When the
ground contact is good and the lightning
is about to strike a building a rod may be
of use, but | think the rods do more harm
than good. There was 4 time when farm
crs were scared into roddfng their barns
and. houses, but | think they are getting
over that
An entirely different view was taken by
a lightning rod manufacturer, who is one
of the largest producers of the article in
the United States.
mo" said he, sit is not trne that the
demand for the rods is falling off. The
business this spring is not quite as lively
as at this time last year, but the season is
a little late. 1t is all nonsense to deny the
value of advantageous as a protection for
buildings. | think that has been estab-
lished long ago. Electricians may tleo-
rize upon the subject, but that does not
connt much against the practical test Of
their utility, Much of the prejudice ex-
isting against the rods is due to the poor
workmanship in setting them mp. In such
cases the rods get the blame very unjustly.
Every one knows the principle on which A
lightning-rod works. 1t is composed of
iron or copper, or a combination of both
these metals. They are good conductors
of the electric current, and draw it downto
the earth when it comes dangerously close
to a building. There are about forty va
rietics of the rod, the copper being the best,
as that metal is the best conductor. Here
is another cause for prejudice against the
rods. A MAI puts up II rod at the end
Of the barn, for instance, takes no care of
it whatever, and then expects that one rod
to watch over the entire heaYens for him.
To secure protection FOR a large structure
there should be a circnit of lightning rods,
all connecting and all with good ground
contact in moist earth Destroy the col
ditions Of anything good and you wipe out
its effectiveness, 1t is 4 fact that first
class architects in this city include in their
plans the lightning-rod circnit. The agents
are not connected with the manufacturers
other han as purchasers Of the rods on
their own account. Glass was formerly
used almost exclusively as an insulator.
but now We fasten the rods to the sides of
buildings with iron clamps. Great care is
exercised in the manufacture of the rods,
and they are made in the most scientific
manner possible. "-Fhild. Record
RE