Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1895-08-08
PROTECTION FROM LIGHTNING.
ake Utility OF Safety Rods-Some Inter.
eSting Statistics.


she Utility OF Safety Rods-SOme Inter.
esting Statistics.
The subject of atmospheric electri-
city is receiving much consideration
from scientists just at present. Meteor
ologists have been mainly content
with collecting statistics regarding the
frequency and severity of thunder
storms Our weather, bureau, however.
carrying out in this direction its policy
OF making its work of practical use to
the people. has been making careful
study OF methods of protection from
lightning. In the bulletin No. IS there
has been given (by Mr.. Alexander
McAdie) a good deal of information on
the subject, which will undou btedly
tend to reduce the amount of humbug-
g;ng which has been going on in re-
gard to lightning rods.
- Lodge, one of the highest author
tiles, has said that any conductor
lightning rod) is better than none,
although but few or none of them are
absolute safeguards Some form of
lightning rod is essential to anything
like security. Putting aside the ques-
ton of the comparative cheapness of
insurance against lightning, and the
cost of lightning rods. we can go at
once to the matter as to how much
lightning rods protect. In order to do
this, it is necessary to get an idea of
the nature of lightning.
There exist all grades of lightning
discharges, from the steady strain"
or gentle flow of the electric current,
comparable to the flow of water in a
river with slow current, to the 'im-
pulsive rush." or intense disruptive
electrical discharges of high mo-
men tum, which are comparable to an
avalanche on a steep mountain side, or
a great flood. Where the discharge is
of the former character. lightning
rods do protect. but in the latter case,
even the best constructed conductors
lose their efficiency just as safety
gate in a waterway would prove use
less in the rush of waters of a great
flood. It was such disruptive dis
charge of lightning which caused the
damage to the Washington monument
on July 5. 1885 There are many flashes
that are of an intensity which the hui
man body can readily withstand.
Lightning rods should be either of
copper tape weighing ounces to the
foot, or of iron rod or tape, weighing
35 ounces to the foot The top of the
which have been plated to prevent cor
rosion or rust The grounding of the
rod should be in damp earth or run
ming water, and independent grounds
are preferable to water or gas main
| pipes. There is no definite area of
protection depending on the height of
the rod. The risk of a lightning stroke
is about five times greater in the coun-
try than in the city. In fact. it is
hardly necessary to place rods on the
| ordinary block dwelling houses of the
| city.
The region of greatest frequency of
thunderstorms in the United States
| is in the southeastern portion, extend
ing from Georgia to Mississippi, where
| 40 storms occur each year at the
average. In the northern part of the
| United States not more than 20 occur,
and on the New England coast but 10.
The summer time is the time of great
est frequency; this occurs in May or
June to the west and southwest of the
| Great Lakes, but the time is retarded
to July and August, with progress
toward the west south and east of this
region. The general direction of APP
proach in the United States is from
the west, but in southern Florida they
approach from the east, thus following
the direction of the general movement
! of the atmosphere.
About 200 people are killed annually
by lightning in the United States. OF
these casualties, usually only 1 death
occurs in each of January, February,
| November and December. In March.
8: April, 13; May, %; June, II; July, 60;
August, &c; September, Is, and October,
IL. The annual loss by fire due to
lightning strokes is estimated al
So, 500, 900. OF the annual mum Der OF
SIS buildings set on fire, $40 were
barns. stables, and granaries, q
churches and 131 dwellings.-N. Y
| Journal