Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1900-07-25
LIGHTNING ROD PROJECTION.

The unusual prevalence of thunder
storms with vivid and destructive light
ming flashes renews interest inthe value
of lightning rod protection. The ques-
ton of the utility of attempts to protect
buildings against ightning is5 a very VI
tai ore; but unfortunately there seems
10 be no very definite consensus Of opin-
ion, even among experts, except in go
far az most Of them agree that the ma
jcrity of commercial rods are useless
Some condemn all rods, some say that
they draw lightning, while others assert
that they are of use when properly con-
structed. A German scientific commits
sion recently decided in their favor, and
now the Electrical World and Engineer
in a leading editorial, takes a similar
position. 1t says:
"A very yexed question for which
there never seems to be n decisive an
swer is the efficacy Of lightning rods on
buildings. In the early days of this Gems
fury an objection which was raised to
the erection of such rods was contra
vention of the designs of Providence,
since some declared it inpious to inter-
8fere with the thurderbolta of heaven.
This allegation seems to have disap-,
peared and the only question that nov
reaches the attentive ear is the ques-
ton Of expense. and aa to whether the
game is worth the candle or irsur-
ance worth the copper. We would take
the position that there is abundant evi-
idenc to snow that lightning-rods do
protect tall buildings of non-conducting
material. but that the protection is not
always the most economical"
Instead Of carrying a slnglestout cop.
per thru nsulators from the chimney
top to the ground the Electriea! Weird
would have us use half "a dozen insuIat-
ed galvanized iron telegraph Wires from
roof to ground. interconnecting them all
on the roof 80 as TO provide a conduct
ing network enclosing the house. rather
than an insulated duct beside the house.
1t goes on to say:
There are numerous instances on
record of lightning discharges having
been conveyed TO the ground from the
| tops Of telegraph poles. thru the ordi-
mary No. s iron wire, provided for that
purpose. without injury to the Wire. and
such material is both plentiful and eco
lnomical. While ii can not be denied
that fiat ribbon has less impedance
than a round Wire of the same cross
section. and that the Importance of a
copper strip iss less than the Importance
of an iron strip for the probable fire.
quences of lightning discharges. yet
we doubt whether the evidence at hand
| if sufficient to show the necessity of
providing ribbons in place Of Wires; in
other words, W. think that iron wires
for ordinary dwellings, are sufficiently
good. In the case of tall and expensive
structures, such az stone church stee-
/ pies, where the cost of damage inflicted
may be severe and the probability of
being struck is also appreciate the ex-
/ pense of a strip of copper or aluminium
may be justified. But in all cases the
ground that the eye sees not is probably
I of more Importance to successful insur-
lance than the conductor that the eye
i8can behold. The modern steel office
I building is Of course a lightning con-
7 ductor in itself, and it would be seem
ingly useless to gid refined gold or
/ paint the lily as to add a lightning rod
/ to the skyseraper.'