The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1890-09-18
Lightning Rods and Travelling Agents.
From the Carolina Spartan.

From the Carolina Spartan.
Unless rods are we'll put up, it is
doubtful whether they benefit house
or not. There should be plenty Of
points that reach higher than the chin
neys and the lower end Of the rod
should reach water or dirt constantly
moist. It requires no special art to
put up rod. A gas pipe would make
as good a rod as iron twisted in any
shape. Electricians have never demon
strated whether the shape Of a rod has
anything to do with its conductive
power. Now any man that can climb
a ladder can rod his own house. There
is no special art about it. If the we'll
is near the ground connection, the rod
should enter that and reach the water.
The rods and points, just as good as
any, can be furnished by hardware
stores. The cost of iron rods is only
abou; $500 hundred feet.
These travelling agents may do very
good and faithful work and they may
he reliable men, but some of them in
/ this county have paralyzed some Of the
farmers. Pink Collins states that they
went to his house and stated that it
would cost him $1,000 to have his house
rodded. He very foolishly signed
contract. When the rod was put up
the bill was $1,000. Jesse Cooper was
| visited by them. His understanding
was that it would cost sl7.00 to have
his house ornamented with a twisted
rod and shining points. When the
work was done the bill was S74.90. He
also signed contract, or paper of some
sort without reading. They went to
Eber Tinsley and agreed to do bis work
for $500. Before the rods came, he
had heard of their methods and de-
clined to have the work done. They
drew the contract on him when "Uncle
Eber" got his blood up and took the
contract from them and tore it up be-
fore their faces. There is a lawsuit
now pending. They have sued him
for the price they would have charged,
or they are talking about suing. They
went to w. G.. Highs five times to
talk him into rod He asked to see
the contract before signing. They re-
fused to let him see it, but read por'
tions of it to him, just such as suited
their case. He refused to sign. There
are various other cases reported.
The alliance must go to work and
educate their members about lightning
rods and travelling agents. Never
sign a paper presented by strange
travelling agent. He may be all right
or he may be all wrong. Sign no con
tract. If these agents cannot take youl
word do not take theirs. Remember
that there is no special art in putting
up lightning rods. Also remember
that one of these contracts you sign Is
much more dangerous than lightning
Finally sign no contract offered by
travelling agents Of any sort. While
on this subject, it may be well to state
that large number of our farmer:
were talked into buying sulky plows
last spring for $500, that have not
done up to this date 36 cents worth o1
good. While the agents were bam
boozling the farmers with these plows
Letchco & Montgomery were selling g
first class sulky plow for less than hall
of $500. They now offer a good pillow
for $500. 1t looks like that at certain
ages of the moon, any glib tonguec
stranger can fool a farmer who has
| little money. Our own merchants and
local agents for agricultural machinery
will deal fairly with you. They viii.
make small per cent. But they are
here all the time and guaranty means
something. If Lethco, or Cannon, OF
Ezell sell an engine or agricultural i'm
plement that is not what was repre-
sented, you can-get your money back
Trade with home people and let travell'
ing strangers alone.
-G1p-------