The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-08
DO LIGHTNING RODS PROTECrq

Conflicting Theories Regarding The u
Mr.. McAdie's Excellent Suggestions
The occasional destruction of build
ings on which lightning rods are erect
ed have more than once excited doubts
as to the value of the latter as protect
ors from Jove's thunderbolts. In
some cases it has been possible to trace
any observed inefficiency to improper
construction, to bad ground connection,
or to damage done las by acid fumes
from neighboring factory chimneys)
to rods which were once reasonably
trustworthy. But in other instances
the utter humiliation of house, fac
tory or church by fire as result of a
stroke of lightning has made it i'm
possible to investigate the condition of
the apparatus; and hence the questions
excited in peoples minds by the APP
parent failure of the rod to perform its
function remain unanswered. Nor
has it tended to restore public confidence
to notice what wide differences of opin-
ion exist among experts as to the theory
on which these devices operate, IL they
protect at all. and as to the proper
form to give them, if they are to do
good instead of positive harm.
Scarcely had the Hghtning-rod con-
ference of Great Britain, after Ella bor-
ate research, decided lin 1855 that ths
rods were really desira BILE contrivances,
that solid rod was better than a
metallic tape, and that any fash. no
matter how intense, might be safely
conveyed to the ground, before another
eminent Englishman, DIR. Oliver j.
Lodge, presented some considerations,
which took his fellow -scientists rather
aback. He insisted that lightning is
sometime, If not often, an oscillatory
performance: the electric current surg
ing to and fro between the sky and the
earth like pendulum, instead of pour
ing all one way as do the contents OF
sewer-pipe. This fact III il be onel
and the excitement of separate set Of
electric oscillations by mere induction
led him to protest against trying TO
coax the lightning. and conveying
downward all the atmospheric electri-
city which any overhanging cloud may
was to carry off as little as possible,
not as much; and not 10 connect the
rod with the gas and water pipe sys-
TEN of house or the town. but 10 give
it an independent ground" or conncc-
ton with the layer of perpetual damp
ness in the earth. The old theory Of
drawing from a cloud gradually
was all right, he said, IL
the supply would always come
ix,. 49, a
modate bursted mill-dzm. and he in
sisted that wholesale and instantaneous
discharges of electricity. which he
called ''impulsive rushes," would occs-
sionaily occur, TO which no lightning
rod would~be at all adequate. II would
simply invite disaster. The rod, then.
should be so small. according 10 his
ideas, as 10 discourage the fluid from
attempting 20 flow; mere wire. in
fact. To this form, however. he rather
preferred tape, a. the latter gave
more conducting surface for the same
amount of metal
Alexander McAdie. now connected
with the L nited States weather brirean.
and an original investigator % these
matters for years, has an article on
them in the Popular Science Monthly.
lie fsvors the use OF rods: prefers cop
per TO iron: would have them weigh six
ounces 10 the foot Of the former metal.
and two pounds II Of the latter: accepts
Lodges idea about fla. eon6 ucters; SAYS
that chain or link conductors are az
little value. advises putting clusters 81
points here and there along the ridge
rod; and regards Ar independent
ground better than connection with
gas or water mains. The TOP Of the
rod, be adds. should he plated. or IN
some way protected from corro&ion and
rust, II would be hard 70 6 nd more
authority on the subject
than Mr. Meade " T. Tribune.