Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1907-07-26
LIGHTNING AND DANGERS.
Statistics That Show the Value of the
Lately Scorned Lightning Rod.

AS with ballooning, so with pro-
lection against lightning, since the
first Identification of lightning with
electricity by Franklin, within two dec
ades of the ascent of the first balloon,
the art of protecting human life and
habitations from its visitations has re-
mained about stationary. There Is
nothing better today than the 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 serV-
ed for continuous lightning experiment
tation and record under the auspices
of the scientific men of the weather
bureau. II there be any advance to
record in the protective devices against
lightning it is through the experience
obtained on the monument. 1t Is 555
feet high and stands in the centre OF
fiat and we'll watered ground, precise
ly the combination Of conditions be-
lieved to attract the lightning. About
twenty years ago the lightning rods
upon it were REINFORCED by connect
ing the pyramidal cap Of aluminium by
network of copper wires, uniting the
four main copper lightning rods with
another and with the uprights sup
porting the elevator machinery, and
arming the whole system Of copper
wires about the cap with some 200
copper points distributed at a uniform
distance Of about five feet. There had
been one damaging lightning stroke
which left it's mark upon the monu-
ment, but since that multiplication OF
points and close connection with the
metals in the interior of the monu-
ment, not another one. In England
this year, owing to the recent whole
sale killing Of cattle and sheep In the
fields, it is seriously proposed to equip
any large trees so situated as to be re-
sorted to commonly as place of ref
uge by cattle in a storm, with light
ming rods, which shall present, at a
height slightly above the highest
branches, an array Of metal points. 1t
Is urged that the expense Is trifing
for such a precaution compared with
the loss on the cattle. 1t is declared by
Prof. Attfield Of England however, that
the burying of cattle destroyed by
lightning is wholly a bit of supersti-
tious rusticity, and that If the car
casses are promptly drained of their
blood as in ordinary slaughtering'
there is no difference in the meat thus
procured from that obtained in the
ordinary ways.
1t is believed that the mortality from
lightning Is greater than Is commonly
supposed, since except in Germany and
France the facts are only partially COL
lected and tabulated by governments.
In England they only estimate" as yet
the totals of lightning destruction, and
the number of cattle killed in the field
is placed at about 600 annually. Twen-
ty-eight deaths were recorded in 1871,
in 1875 II, and in 1877 only 10. In
Prussia the number Of deaths per mil
lion of inhabitants on an average OF
fifteen years, is four: In France and
Sweden, three and in the United States
about five. Our rate is higher than
that of most countries owing to the
large proportion of our agricultural
population. In 1898 the number of
deaths recorded by the statistics of
the weather bureau was 367 and injur-
barns and 734 dwellings, were destroy
ed and about 1890 head of cattle,
horses, sheep and hogs-the approXi-
mate money loss being $l,500,000. And
vet the authorities tell us that in the
United States there are few flashes
o intense that good lightning rods of
continuous metal well inserted in the
earth will not afford effective protec-
ton. This is not necessary in the city
built in close blocks, with metal cor
nices and roofs and SpOuts abounding,
but in the country the same authorities
unite in saying that good lightning
rods, in good repair and with burnish-
ed points on the roof corners are emf
nently desirable things to be provided
with. Tall factory chimneys and
steeples and all such structures as
tower above their surroundings should
have their lightning rods as a matter Of
course, and have them constructed
most carefully and inspected often to
keep their joints intact.-BOston Trans
cript