New-York tribune., 1905-07-14
THE LIGHTNING ROD.
Whatever the Device for Averting Danger, It
Must Be Well Grounded
To the Editor Of The Tribune.


Sir: Referring to your article on Protection
from Lightning I would say that the theory that
insulated rods OF metal in any form. with or
more pointed extremities tipped with gold, silver
or copper. extending above the loftiest portion OF
structure and into the earth. will protect it from
damage destruction by lightning. so called. is
fallacious- Lightning rod fakrs and manufacturers
have exploited this theory to the full. and numer
Gus househoders have been swindled out OF their
money and deceived with regard to the promised
protection The fact is that all bodies are per-
vaded with either positive negative electricity
and when two with these antagonistic properties
come in contact there is discharge Of the posi-
tive into the negative matter until an equilibrium
is accomplished. and the result varies according to
the amount OF the positive electricity.
Consequently. a building other object free
from that form OF electricity which would attract
its opposite would not be affected The earth
being the chief OF attraction and equalizer
Of the electric fluid that forms and accumuates
in the atmosphere we must endeavor TO maintain
objects desire TO protect in equilibrium with
in the atmosphere shall not be attracted 10 them
in its passage to the gEoqS{d IND ,,,+ ,.+.., =, -
sulated lightning rods. conductors OF greater sur
attached to the building, and terminate deeply in
damp earth. BY this method. we have a constant
ing it Of that which might otherwise attract a
destructive force on It's way TO ne earth STRIPS OF
cording 70 the work required. folded leng hwise to
a width Of two more inches, and fastened to q
building from the highest portion along the most
prominent parts. and. as frequent as the dlrnen-
sions of the building would demand. with the ends
buried de epy have proved In more than & Sps 9
50 called Iightning when buildings with insulated
Hghtninc rods uHo0 the7n did not prevent their
buildings with metal roofs and ventilating shafts
of iron projecting through the roof and runn!ng
70 With cutters a Of same material leading 70 the
superior as prGsctGTs @ athous6
unntentionay. have never susianea nIak Srofos 6et
sor Henry OF washington. forTnuLated the ABOVE
theory. and put it in practice IN tnat city ~
Denver. Col. July 2, 1906
four CORRESPONDENT is partly right and partly
wrong. The committee OF the British society OF
Architects which has made the last important
report on lightning rods. distinctly recommends
connecting all the horizontal conductors talohs
ridges and gutters) with the vertical rods The
same should be done with roof finals chimney
cowls and other metallic projections. and with
water utpes and ventilating pipes. One para
graph says specifically: "An large masses OF
r,ataI IN the building should be connected TO
earth either directly by means OF the lower
horizontal conductor" Still another reads
.rNhere roofs are partially or wholly metal lined
thew should be connected to earth with vertical
rods at several points" II viii be seen that no
pretence Is made here (and none has been made
by The Tribune) that the vertical rods should
be completely independent OF the building and
Insulated therefrom- On the other hand there
Is not the slightest encoura cement TO ths belief
that a sheet OF metal. the roof or elsewhere.
Is OF the slightest value unless II Is made part
OF through route from the upper air 70 the
earth Wherever II has really done any good.
there must have been connections with vertical
pipes or other metallic objects which would
complete the work OF conducting the current-l