Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-05-31
LIGHTNING.

| Quite n NOlumlnOuS ulScuSSioh 20 ~
whether losses Of life and property b,
lightning are on the increase has beer
started by the last annual report or the
United States Weather Bureau, and the
question seems to have as many sides as
the pet contpede In the average newspa-
per Office has legs.
The report that is responsible for so
! great a display of logic, contradictions,
meteorological dissertation, theories, and
charges and counter charges of ignorance
sets forth that during recent years there
| has been remarkable increase in pro-
perty losses, principally farm property,
through the agency Of lightning, and pre-
sents some figures to show that the death
rate through the same agency has been
gradually mounting up.
As to property losses, the bureau puts
fire-insurance companies on the stand to
sustain its contention. but 1t is very I'M
fortunate in the selection OF its first wit
ness Of this class 1t cites the experience
of a New Jersey company, which paid in
that State $24,3S in losses from lightning
during the six years from 1882 to 1887 and
sG2, l53 in the corresponding six years Of
the present decade. Now, 1t is clear that
these figures. unsupported by other evil
dence will not be accepted by the general
public as proving anything. For this
query Immediately suggests itself: How
many Of the fires were due to careless
ness i'm persons, superlnduced by their
having become surcharged with Jersey
lightning? and how many to the direct
stroke of the natural article that Dr.
Franklin caught by the caudal append
age? However, in justice to the bureau,
il should be said that 1t does support its
Jersey witness. 1t calls to the stand the
Michigan companies which paid $37,J63 on
losses by lightning in BIG cases in 1895 and
1853, s1 on 1909 cases in 1896, and adduces
similar testimony from companies of other |
States.
Were the case left here It would seem |
that the bureau had sustained its posi- |
ton. But there is another side. The fig |
ures of the bureau carry with them the |
that of recent years electrical |
storms have been more frequent and Sc
we're than formerly. Yet. there is a school
If disputants who argue that this does
not follow, even If it is true that the loss
IF life and property is on the increase.
They point out that year by year the
numbers of persons and houses that pre-
sent marks for lightning are also increas-
ng Moreover. they dwell upon the fact
hat the comparative statistics of the
bureau must be accepted cautiously for
he reason that the facilities for gather
ng information touching casualties by
lightning are greater now than ever be-
ore. Again, admitting for the sake OF
argument that losses are on the increase,
he view that this is owing to change of
Innate and more frequent and intense
electrical disturbances Is antagonized.
With boom for the lightning rod man.
n consequence, we are told of the pass
ng in such great degree of the lightning
cd. there is now less protection for life
nd property from lightning than hereto
ore Indeed. we shouldn't be surprised
the exploitation in this connection OF
he virtues of the lightning-rod led to
he formation Of lightning-rod trust in
double sense.
Those who accept the contentious and
cures of the bureau are prolific OF scien-
hc explanations of why electrical phe-
omena are more frequent and intense"
han in the past, and their explanations
lay explain to scientific man. But
bout all the ordinary commonplace
lortal can make out of them Is that
hey prove that the world knows but lit
10 more now about where the lightning
going to strike than it did when the
Sage first undertook TO
project" with IL. As has been well said {
he advance which has been made in har-
essng this force of the earth and air to
he service of man has been unattended I
y any corresponding progress in our un- +
erstanding of its nature or ability to ar I
est its destructive natural manifesto )
ions. The wind continues to blow where
listeth, and the lightning to strike .
where 1t pleases. and no man has yet G
cen able to regulate or account for the
of either. o