The San Francisco call., 1896-06-06
The Farallones Light Struck
Twice, and It's Wires
Were Burned.
GOVERNMENT OFFICERS DIFFER
Weather Bureau Scientists and the
Lighthouse Board Disagree on
Coast Storms.

Aside from splitting tree out at Brod-
erick and Union streets, the recent light
ming has developed decided difference OF
opinion between two departments of the
United States Government. The diver
gence OF views existed for som time before
the electric storm swept over San Fran
cisco, but 1t exists now in more marked
degree than ever before.
The Lighthouse Board says one thing,
the Weather Bureau another thing di-
rectly opposite. And the trouble is some
body has made mistake, which, accord
ing to expert opinion, needs remedying.
The Lighthouse Board holds that there
is no danger from lightning on the Pacific
Coast, while the gentlemen of the Weather
Bureau, who have given the subject con-
siderable attention, say that lightning
smites here once in while and does more
or less damage.
The wreck of stately tree near the
Presidio week ago.goes to prove that the
meteorologists are correct. As the light
house people viewed the matter they con.
cluded that there was no need of protec-
tion from lightning on this coast and con-
sequently lighthouses along the Pacific
Coast were denuded of lightning-rods.
''There is a false impression abroad
about the weather on this coast" ex-
claimed Mr.. Harmon of the Weather
Bureau. "People will tell you that the
climate is changing, that it never rains in
summer in California and that only on ex-
ceedingly rare occasions do we have
thunderstorm. Even then they will add
that the lightning keeps far away and on
no account could it be guilty of striking
anything on earth. This is all wrong.
The records of the Weather Bureau show
that there is no change in our climate,
that we have rain in summer months and
lightning quite frequently.
"About two years ago the lighthouse
people had all the lightning-rods removed
from lighthouses on the Pacific Coast
They said there was no use for rods, since
there were no thunderstorms. When the
rod was taken down from the Farallones'
light we found that the tip had been
struck by lightning. 1t was burned and
melted. l took the socket and had 1t
placed on the roof OF the Mills building as
holder for the thermometer.
"Since then there was thunderstorm
of considerable severity off the coast. The
| lightning struck the FaralIones' light
house and burned out the electric wires"
The officer in charge of the Pacific lights
said that the hghting-rods had not been
replaced, even in face of the second expe-
rience at the Farallones light. "The
board caused the lightning conductors to
be removed" he explained, land have not
replaced them on this coast. They were
convinced there was no necessity Tor
lightning conductors, and it would be
more economical to remove them than to
keep them in order.
81 heard that the tip of the conductor
on the Farallones light was burned by
lghtning-that was before my time. After
the rod was removed fash of lightning
-, ,,oIrt Iirrhf III To
burn out the call wires. The dwelling of
the attendants is about a quarter of mile
from the lighthouse and they are con-
nected by wire which is used to call the
men to their watches. This wire was de-
stroyed and the1e was no call system until
1t was repaired"
Alexander Nc cAdie, the lightning expert
of the Weather Bureau was OF the opinion
that it was mistake to have removed the
lightning conductors from the Pacific
Coast lighthouses. Said he:
"The fact that the Farallones light was
struck twice shows that the man who or
dered the conductors taken down acted
hastily. The lighthouse people, believe,
ought to have rods on their houses now
after the experience of this year, for we
have had four or five lightning storms on
this coast within q year and some of the
lightning has struck.
f'This reminds me of the British admiral
who was called upon to approve certain
specifications for a lightning conductor for
lighthouse. He was q believer in the
surface theory of Sir William Snow Harris,
but sought the advice of Faraday to make
sure. Faraday said, The solid rod is bet
ter than the tube, for solid volume is
everything If Harris says otherwise,
then he knows nothing about it,. Straight.
way the admiral met Harris, who ex-
claimed, Surface area is most important,
and if Faraday says otherwise, then he
knows nothing about it.
The illustration, unconsciously as it was
given, was apt. For as matters stand now
regarding the Pacific Coasts unprotected
lighthouses it is q case of ''lf the other
fellow says otherwise be knows nothing
about it." And meanwhile, as Mr.. McAdie
added, it is within the range of probability
that lightning storm may come along
some day and leave some lighthouse on
the coast in darkness.