Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1907-07-25
LIGHTNING AND DANGERS
Statistics That Show the Value of the
Lately Scorncd Lightning Rod.
UFrom the Boston Transcript

AS with b~alooning, so with protec.
tion against lightning. since the first
Identification of lightning. with cleo.
tricitN by Franklin, within two de-
cados of the ascent of the first balloon
the art of protecting human life and
habitations from it's visitations has re-
NAMED about stationary. There is
nothing better to-day thar tho metal
rod. either OF iron or copper. with
sharp points projecting a little way
above the object to be protected. The
great Washington monument has sorv-
ed for continuous lightning expert
mcntation n record under the aus
pices of the scientific mon of the
weather bureau. If there be any adj
vance to record in the protective de-
vices against lightning it is through
the experience obtained on the monu-
ment. 1t is 555 feet high and stands
IN the center of fiat and we'll watered
ground. precisely the combination Of
conditions believed to attract tho light
ming. Ahout twenty wears ago the
lightning rods upon It were reinforced
by connecting the pyramidal cap Of
aluminium by n network of copper
wires uniting the four main copper
lightning rods with one another ana
with the tprights supporting the Gle
vator machinery. and arming the whole
system of copper wires about the can
with some 200 copper points distrib-
ut"d at a uniform distance Of about
five feet. There had been one damaE-
ing lightning stroke which left its
mark upon the monument. but since
that multiplication of points and clos-
connection with the metals I'm the in
terror OF the monument. not another
one. In England this year, owing to
the recent wholesale killing Of cattle
ana sheep in tho fields, IT is seriously
proposed to equip any large trees so
situated as to be rcsorted to
as a place of refuge by cattle I'm n
storm. with lightning rods, which shah
present at a height slightly above tho
highest branches, an array of metal
points. 1t is urged that the expense
is 'rlhlng for such a ~preCaution coni.
pared with the loss on the cattle. 1t
is declared by Prof. Attfcld, of Eng
land. however. that the buryine of
cattle destroyed by lightning is wholly
a bit Of supcrstitious rusticity: AMI
that IL he carcasses arc
of their blood. as In ordinary
Strengthening, there Is no difference in
the meat thus procured from that OBJ
in the ordinary ways.
II Is believed that the mortality from
lightning is greater than is commonly
supposed. since except in Germany ana
the facts are only partially col /
locted and tabulated by governments.
In England they only estimate" as
yet the totals of lightning destruction
and the number OF cattle killed in tn.
field IL placed at about 500 annually
rw"nty-eight deaths wore recorded I'm
1871. in 1875 Il, aud I'm 1877 only 10.
In Prussia the Number of deaths per
Of Inhabitants on an average
)f fifteen years, Is 4: in France and
Sweden, 3, and I'm the United States
ihout .. Our rate is higher than that
IF most countries owing TO the larga
proportion of our horticultural popuIa-
ion. In 1898 the number of deaths re-
'ordod by the statistics of the weather
was 367 and injuries 491. Nine
hundred and siyty-siX barns and 1876
wcrc destroyed and about
500 head of cattle, horses. sheep. and
logs-the approximate money loss be
$l,5o0,000. And yet the authorities
ell us that in the United Stat $ there
re few flashes so intense that good
lightning rods of continuous metal well
in the earth will not afford
Elective protection. This is not neccs-
AIRY in tho city built In close blocks.
With metal cornlcos ana roofs and
pouts abourdi - but in the country
he same authorities unite in saving
hat good lightning rods, in good re-
air and with FURNISHED points on the
oof corners are cminently desirable
hings to be provided with. Tail fac-
DRY chimneys and stecplcs and all
UGH structures as tower above their
surroundings should havc their light.
ing rods as a matter of course, and
ave them constructed most carefully
nd inspected often to keep their A.,
oints intact. ~,