New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-01-01


owing apparently to the fact that the nature
OF the soil is not favorable to the production
of the phenomenon This is matter which
has relation 70 geology. but there is a good
deal Of doubt on the subject even yet.
To measure the diameter II a lightning fash
would seem to be out Of the question. and vet
it is often done. Now and then lightning
strikes bed Of sand and instantly transforms
the silica Of the sand into glass. thus making
a tube Of exactly lis own size. Tubes Of glass
thus formed are frequently dug up. and they
have been followed down into sand as far as
thirty feet II IL not 20 DE- supposed that all
lightning flashes have the same diameter. and
this II proved by the fact that the glass tubes
made by them. under conditions such as those
described. vary in diameter from the thick
ness Of a gull. - three inches Or more. Thus
the bore u the fash varies through wide
range.
When the famous scientist Won Humboldt
first looked upon he peaks Of the Nevada De
Toluca in Mexico he wondered TO what cause
might be referred he strange glitter OF the
highest rocky pinnacies IN the sunlight. De-
termined 10 investigate the matter he climbed
the mountain al much risk 10 his lie. and
found that the rocks on The top we're covered
with thin layer u green glass Ihey nad
been struck ever so many times by lightning
which had vitrified the silica 0f the rocks
Sometimes lightning tubes such as those al
ready described are made IN solid rock. though
Of slight depth. on the summit OF Little
Ararat. in Armenia tubes OF the KIND are sur
there is so soft and porous that blocks Of
stone can be dug out which are perforated
all directions by little pipes lined with bottle
green glass.
TARGETS FOR LIGHTNING
1t may seem strange that one locality should
be struck by lightning - frequently. but OF
course mountainous are naturally exposed 10
such assaults Of nature Furthermore. certain
parts OF the world seem 20 be- particularly la
Die TO iightning-stroke. though nobody knows
Why it should be so For example. people can.
not be induced 70 live in The neghb0rhOOd OF
Vega de Supa. in New Granada. because OF
fear Of lightning. which constantly assas that
district. The place seems 20 De- chosen target
for the celestial artillery. Professor Pcchels.
OF Dresden. has published The opinion recently
that the magnetism observed in the strata OK
rocks. and most of all in what X called mag
netic iron ore has been produced therein To-
cally by lightning This theory seems 20 DC
confirmed b. the fact that no magnetic ore Is
found IN deep iron mines
In recent years there has arisen serious
doubt 10 the value II lishtning-rods ana
many people nowadays DO not have them put
on their Houses because u this tubtation TINS
istrust has arisen probably from the fact that
buildings provided with lightning rods have on
many occasions been destroyed. II Is iact
that any number II iightnng-rods VIII no'
necessarily protect a building Atter AL the
lightning rod is only a conductor, ana is aDe
10 carry only a certain amount 81 the electro
iud II an avalanche OF electricity comes, u
may overflow like a torrent that oyeri'ows the
banks of the channel designed for II. ana tne
'esult is disaster. Nevertheless. the weather
Bureau declares that lightnlng-rods may ne re-
led upon 10 protect buildings from AL ordinary
'hances Of electrical attack
City people may congratulate themselves 'na'
hey are very much less liable 10 Lightning -suSNe
han country folks. In fact II IS rechOned ' na
he average person in rural district II NV
lines as likely 10 be struck by lightning as
own resident. This is because The TN roois
Train pipes. etc. Of city houses serve as I'm
luctors for electricity II is practically unneces.
'ary 10 provide lightning-rods Tor dwelling ~
city block. At the same time efforts are COZ"
inually being made 10 increase the pTotecuon -
buildings against lightning. and this mas or ,s
he subject OF many curious Inventions r
Instance one Of these would provide each 'o~s
r village with one or more skeleton iron to"e,ss
4 enormous height which should he eluiPpes
With rods extending far up toward the SKY I" ~
my threatening cloud would be apt 70 direct ~ ~
lectrc discharges against these toNe.s !.
reference 10 the houses below. Another iuea .
o raise whenever thunderstorm arrives.
lumber Of balloons will pro,rud.ns meiai po",,
.hich are expected u carry OF the euI.sI
trough cables connecting them with me 3 'u'S