Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1894-08-02

| tecuon from lightning by AIexandeI
! McAddie, of the United State:
weather bureau, with which our read
ers would do we'll to supply them
selves by application to the weatbe,
bureau, department of agriculture
Washington, D. G. 1t gives statistics
of actual losses from lightning: the
theory Of protection from lightning, in
language free from technicalities. and
hence readily understood by every
farmer; a collection of practical rules
for guidance in selecting lightning
rods, and a notable illustra ton of the
successful use of protectors. 1t will
therefore be seen that the aim of the
pamphlet is to furnish information. of
practical value and especially to farm
ers. We can, of course, give nothing
but the briefest summary Of some of
the points which we deem of erea test
value to farmers, advising all who fear
lightning strokes, or who wish to nro-
vide the fullest protection at the least
possible cost, to secure for themselves
copies of the pamphlet. Among the
practical points mentioned are the
following: First. all barns and ex-
posed buildings should have lightning
rods, while ordinary dwelling houses
in city blocks have not the need for
rods that scattered houses in the conn
try, and especially on hill sides, have.
On this point it may be we'll to men
ton that in the years of 1891 and
1892. according to the most reliable
statistics, the losses from lightning on
barns, granarieS and stables far ex-
ceeded the losses on other buildings.
For example, in 1891 the losses on
barns, granaries and stables were 300
dwellings rs, and all other buildings
together 80. In 1892 the losses on
barns, granaries and stables were 495,
dwellings and tenementS III ana all
other buildings 50. Second. the best
material for rods is iron or copper.
Ii copper is used it should be in the
form Of a tape and weigh six ounces
to the foot. If iron it should be- in
rod or tape form and weigh 30 ounces
to the foot, and should in every case
be i'll close contact with the building.
Third, ii the rod at any part of the
course goes near water or gas pipes it
is best to connect it to them. Fourth,
the top of the rod should be plated or
IN some way protected from rust.
Fifth, clusters Of points in groups of
two to three along the ridge rod are
recommended. Sixth, chain or link
PAn1nntOrS ~ ljttln
the theory that a rod will protect the
building for the distance of two times
the height OF the conductor from the
ground is pronounced erroneous.
Eighth, a good lightning rod will pro-
tect building against the great ma
jority of flashes. There may be, how
ever "a stroke of such force that an
ordinary lightning rod will fail to pro-
tect. Ninth, an instance is given of
the Hotel De Vile, at Brussels, where
the building was injured by lightning
without being struck at all. 1t was
pronounced the best protected build
ing in the world, and yet during a
thunder storm a spark of lightning
generated from within, touched escap-
ing gas and set the building on fire
Tenth, it is not true that lightning
never strikes twice in the same place.
The fact Of the building being struck
once is no reason why it should not
be struck again. Eleventh, it makes
but little difference whether trees are
higher than adjoining houses, as by
reason Of being so they do not neces-
Sarily furnish protection. Twelfth, it
is not wise to stand uRder trees nor
in dOorWays Of barns, nor close to
cattle, nor near chimneys or fire
places during thunder storms, nor is
it Of any use to so to bed, nor do
small articles Of steel have any power
to attract lightning or determine the
path of it's discharge. Thirteenth,
there is no necessity for alarm dur
ing thunder storms, as the danger,
after all, is but slight. Heaven has
more thunders to alarm than thunder
bolts to punish" and one who lives
to see a lightning flash need have
no fear that it will hurt him and
much less need he fear when he hears
the accompanying thunder. Four
teenth, in many cases death from
lightning stroke is only apparent and
no effort should be spared for an hour
to restore circulation.
1t is to be regretted that the PAM
phlet does not give more minute di-
rections for the putting up Of light
ming rods and in doing this we can
only give the recommendation that
they would be much more effective in
strips, in close metallic contact with
the building, terminating In sharp
point, which should be galvanized and
the rod should be placed deep enough
in the ground to reach permanent
moisture. Small gas pipes closely con-
nected and terminating in a galvan-
lied point nailed securely to the build
ing and connected with a we'll or els
tern, is we think as cheap and as re-
liable a lightning rod as can be made.
Next to this are strips Of copper
Finally there is more danger Of loss
Of property and temper from light
ming rod dealers than there is from
the lightning itself.
CORN.
Director W. II. Jordan, of the Maine
-Aaf hrT, y0cy