Walker Lake bulletin. (Hawthorne, Nev.) 1883-1926, 1895-08-07
LIGHTNING STROKES.
Favorite Spots for the Thunder
bolts Dangerous Shaft.
CITIES COMPARATIVELY SAFE.
The Heart of the Forest all Right, but
Avoid a Single Tree-In Case or
Accidents.

In 1891 the chief of the Weather
Bureau issued to all State and local
observers instructions to report to the
central office, at the end of each month.
the names, dates and places of all per-
sons killed or injured by lightning,
and also accounts Of all other depre-
dations done by thunderstorms. One
of the meteorologists of the bureau was
directed to receive and tabulate these
interesting returns, and make, in
addition, various studies with view
of extermining what sections OF the
country are in the greatest danger of
thunderstorms, what kinds of trees,
buildings, soils, ETC., seem to excite
the wrath of Jove, what forms of
lightning rod are most desirable, what
are the most effective means Of re-
storing persons lightning struck, to-
gether with many other practical prob
lens never solved before.
Here are some of the facts about
thunderstorms, which have thus far
been learned, and which everyone,
particularly at this season, should
know, says the Boston Transcript.
The average loss of life from lightning
stroke for one year in the United States
is estimated at 244 persons, while the
average yearly destruction of property
costs the country over million and
a-half of dollars. The most severe
months for this sort of phenomena are
June and July, although in some sea-
SONS thunderstorms have been reported
in several States as happening in every
month in the year, except January.
The region of winter thunderstorms.
however. lies far south, centering about
Louisiana. Forty thunderstorms a
year is considered to be the maximum
average for any section of the United
States. A line drawn on the map to
indicate the belt visited generally by
this number would pass through
Southern Georgia, southern Alabama,
and southeastern Mississippi. The
number of storms decreases as we go
northward, until we reach the coast
of New England. which suffers from
but ten storms year, on an average.
One of the most interesting facts OBJ
served is that people living in cities
and thickly populated towns stand in
little danger of having their bodies and
property injured, as compared with
those living in the country or suburbs,
the risk in the latter being five times
as great as in the former. Hence
there is but little necessity of placing
lightning rods upon houses built in
connected city blocks. The continuous
tin roofing. cornices, etc.. offer the
necessary protection, being ample
means of distributing the current and
leading it away from the particular
spot struck.
Each kind of soil seem to offer
different attraction for lightning. A
chalk formation is the safest of all
upon which to build house. If re-
present the frequency with which this
is struck, 2 will represent the liability
for mari, 7 for clay, 8 for sand and 20
for loan. Hence 1t would not be wise
to build powder mill or dynamite
factory on piece of land composed of
loan surface.
Some country people regard tall trees
as better conductors of lightning than
rods, and for this reason prefer to build
their houses in clump of whichever
trees they think offer the greatest at
traction. Tall trees offer little protec
ton, even to small building. How
ever, here appear to be different prefer
ences manifested by farmers in many
sections. But the fact is that an oak
is the species most frequently struck,
while the beech offers the least at
traction. Pines are not as frequently
struck as other trees excepting the
beech. An old saw tells us that it is
dangerous to stand under a tree dur
ing thunder storm. This is true,
but it would naturally seem more dan
gerous to seek the shelter of forest
than of single tree. In reality the
heart of forest is safe place, but
those caught in the woods, while ON
picnics for instance, should stay as
near the center as possible. In
dense growth of trees there is the same
safety which is offered by thickly
built locality. Trees most frequently
struck by lightning are those standing
alone, in fields, or those ON the edges
of forests. Trees most usually struck
average in height from 80 to Sc feet.
Their Trunks are struck three times as
often as their boughs. The current,
in most instances, travels directly to
the ground. Trees are in greater dam
ger if near bodies of water than if in
dry places Even narrow bitches or
rain puddles offer attraction.
lightning is found to strike three
times as many barns as dwellings. A
barn is more likely to be struck when
full of produce than when empty. 1t
is, therefore. in greater danger after
the harvest than before. A barn filled
with crops contains much more heat
than one empty. and it is much more
easily set on fire if struck by lightning.
A lightning stroke may have two
entirely different effects upon the
body of a person. 1t may destroy the