The Bozeman weekly chronicle., 1888-08-08

iStAA NAOtShSSs iVi. oWOh Gays q
ming rod should have solid copp.r
connections an should be attached to the
most exposed points of the building
and run into the ground to permanent
moisture, and having good point, can
be relied upon with perfect safety. On
page 500 of the American Encyclopedia
this distinguished writer, after recon-
mending good lightning rods to be used
as conductors of electricity, goes on to
say that barns slowed with new hay, the
vapors from which produce warm. as
cending currents, are especially liable to
be struck, hence the importance of the
best conductors on your dwellings to
protect the lives of your family, and on
your barns to protect your stock and
crops. Thunder storms and discharges
of lightning cannot be prevented, but
that all damage therefrom may be avert
ed by the proper use of copper rods, is
weli-attested truth. The following is
from the pen Of Prof. Merriam, of New
York:
II am in favor of lightning conductors
generally, as the best means OF protec-
tion to life and property, independent of
any particular mode of construction
yet, great care should be taken to have
them constructed of such material and
Of such form and size as bring them
within the law of perfect safely"
And this favorable opinion is the re-
suit of observations and study that have
extended over more than half century
of time, and over large extent of geo
graphical surface. Our record Of light.
ming phenomena is, without doubt, the
most minute and extensive on the globe,
extending to all climates and to the re-
mote districts of the earth. These rec
ords furnish the most abundant evidence
of the protection against lightning. 1
will briefly state, under several heads,
some facts that will be convincing to
any observing person. No case of death
by lightning on steamboat, in rail-
road car, in an iron building or vessel,
or to a telegraph operator, has come to
my knowledge. Steamboats, have been
in use more than seventy five years !;
railroad cars, fifty-ive years; and tele-
graphy, forty years. No death by light
ming has been known in vessel furnish
ed with proper lightning rods, nor have
marine underwriters ever been called
upon to pay for loss or damage by light
ming to vessels or cargoes where the yes.
sells were furnished with lightning
conductors properly put up. The follow
ing authority on the subject of the value
of surface in a conductor IS worthy a
place in this connection. Experiments
teach us that electricity is exhibited
only on the surface of bodies. tCham-
ber's Encyclopedia, vol. III, p. s14.]
We learn from these and numerous
other experiments that electricity is
found only on the outer surface of con-
ductors in an envelope of inappreciable
thickness. [Chamber's Ency., vol. Ill p
sl6.] 1t has already been shown that
| electric matter runs over the surface Of
conducting substances like stream Of
water running from one place to another
Wnen electricity IS communicated to {
conducting body, it does not distribute
itself uniformly through the who'll
mass, but exclusively upon the surface
[Draper's Chemistry.1 The distribution
of electricity in an excited body is upon
the surface. [Silliman's Chemistry.
When body is electrified, the fluit
with which it is charged lies on the sur
face of that body, and not at all within
the surface. [Olmstead's Philosophy
When electricity is communicated to 1
conducting body it resides nearly upol
the surface, and does not penetrate t
any depth within. Wells Natural Phi
losophy.1 The rods should be made c
the best conducting substance, which il
copper, and should expose as great al
extent OF surface as possible, consisten
with strength and durability. lSir W
Snow Harris.] Our buildings have stoo
for years-perhaps fifty or more-witf
out being struck by lightning, therefor
We conclude they are safe. No conclr
sion could be more unphilosophica
1t is long lane that has nc end.
there is any difference. it would seem
be in favor of the new buildings, for
might be considered that the larger II
extension, the greater the danger. 1t
not possible that any one can be so i
norant as not to know that metal is
conductor of electricity, and it is q
, evil lent fact that demonstrations pro,
, that science has shown lis the propt
way to use metal to protect our lives an
homes. If we do not use tho knowIeds
which onr Creator has given US for OIL
I protection, we are certainly defying H
a laws.
n About Water.
q Oar esteemed contemporary the Boz
man CHRONICLE, makes strong plea +