The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1899-07-11

or two for every working day. In
1898, the number published was only
2C3
Three hundred and sixty seven
deaths from lightning strokes last J ear,
as reported by the United States
Weather Bureau. to say nothing of
property destroyed, would seem to in
dioate the advisa bility of adopting
every preventive possible against this
subtle fluid of the air and the erection
of lightning reds, providing these are
effective. In 1898 reports were re
cesved Of $50 cases of buildings be
ing destroyed or damaged by lightning,
aggregating a loss Of 81, 44O, 600. Dur
ing this year 700 damaging strokes
fell upon live stock in the field. The
Weather Bureau reports show the tx
terestiDg fact that large proportion
Of the live stock 80 killed was found in
close contact with wire fences, and
that these wire fences were not pre-
vided with ground wires. Urques-
tionably wire fences, as now con
structed, cause large losses each year,
but it is quite evident that a consider
able percentage Of damage may be
avoided by the use of ground wires at
frequent intervals in the construction
Of the fences, thus allowing opportun-
ity for the current to discharge itself
into the earth. Some of the reports
show that the lightning struck the
fence at q considerable distance from
the point where the stock was killed.
1t has often been stated that light
ming rods are largely going out of use
and that they are no longer considered
eff ctive. 1t this latter statement the
case in fact7 The Weather Bureau
states that while few if any conduct
ors are absolutely complete safeguards,
almost any conductor is better than
none and that conductors are essential
to any thing like security. In cases of
sudden enormous discharges of cleo
tricity, conductors may be like river
channels in time OF food, unable to
carry off safely the full current. A
general discussion by the Bureau of
the need for lightning rods concludes
that all barns and exposed buildings
should have them. Ordinary dwell
ing houses in city blocks have not the
need for rods that scattered houses in
the country, especially if On hillsides,
have. Toe iron rod is as efficient as
the copper; it should weigh about 6
ounces to the foot and be in the form
of tape. The grounding Of the rod
is OF great Importance. The best
ground connection possible is, for some
flashes, very poor one. Bury the
earth plates Of the rod in damp earth
or running water, if possible" The
top Of the rod should be plated or in
some way protected from rust. Inde
pendent groundings are better than
connections with water or gas pipes.
Chain or link conductors are Of little
use. The fact of building having
lightning rod being struck, should not
necessarily condemn the rod. Any
part of building, if the fash be of q
certain chaTa acter, may be struck,
whether there is rod on the building
or not. Fortunately these are excep-
tonal cases. The great majority of
flashes in our latitudes are not 80 in
tense but that good lightning rod,
we'll grounded, makes the most natural
path for the fash.
It is not wise, the Bureau experts
say, to stand under trees during Chun'
der storms, especially oak trees, in
door ways or barns where are draughts
OF air, close to cattle, or near chimneys
or freplRces. Small articles of steel
do not have the power to attract light
ming as is sometimes supposed.
FINALLY" it is stated, ''it you are in
the vicinity Of a person who has just
been struck by lightning, no matter if
he appears dead, 60 to work at once
to restore consciousness. Lightning
frequently causes a temporary paralysis
of the respiration and the heart which,
if left alone, will deepen into death,
but intelligentIy treated, will generally
result in recovery"