Gloucester County Democrat. (Woodbury, N.J.) 1878-1932, 1911-09-07
LIGHTNING PROTECTION.

0duuCl .. SOAONSI.1
Mr.. President: / was surprised to
learn that this question was on the
program for to-day, not that it is not
an important question, for it certainly
is a question that should interest
every person in this county, and State,
especially the farmers here assem-
bled; the fact is, however, the many
years since the organization of this
County Board | do not recollect of
hearing this question discussed at any
of its meetings, and strange as it may
seem, during membership of thirty
five years in the Grange, | can not re-
call a single meeting when the matter
of lightning protection has been ser
iously considered.
From my earliest recollections
have. been advised to beware of the
lightning rod mani" hence it is but
against lightning rods, and have never
given the subject the thought that /
should. until recently. There have
been many farmers swindled by fax
ers, unscrupulous men, travelling over
the country / do not deny, men who
were totally ignorant of the science
of electricity, who knew little of the
phenomenon of lightning. While this
is true, it should not deter us from
giving so important question ser
ious consideration
/ am convinced that lightning con-
ductors do protect buildings. | be-
lieve that lightning rods, when scien-
tifically erected, protect life and prop
erty. have made inquiry into the
many fires that have been caused by
lightning destroying SO much prop
erty OF late and in nearly every case
the buildings were not protected or
rodded
The fact that many fire insurance
companies are now making discount
in rate where lightning conductors
are placed on the buildings should
convince any one of the Necessity of
protection of property by the use of
lightning rods.
The experience of many years has
proven that when all the necessary
rules of putting up lightning con-
ductors have been observed the pro-
lection is perfect.
Lightning conductors do not attract
the lightning toward the building on.
which they are situated; they direct
its course and facilitate the passage of
the fluid insthe most direct way to the.
earth. do not contend that they
guarantee absolute protection, but do
afford very high degree of protec-
ton The president Of the French
Academy Of Science says: Simple,
uniform and rational rules for pro-
tecting buildings from the effects of
lightning when properly observed re-
duce to insignifcance the danger to
be apprehended from thunder storms"
My son, while travelling in Europe,
this summer, ascended Effel tower,
in Paris, the highest tower in the
world, 905 it. high, and observed that
it was protected by lightning rods
We need not go to France or any other
country to get evidence; our own gov
ernment, the United States of America
protects all buildings including the
White House, with lightning conduc-
tors. The Washington monument on
several occasions suffered damage by
lightning. In 1885, committee of
scientific men headed by Prof. Row
land, of Johns Hopkins University,
was appointed to investigate the sub
ject. They recommended rods be
placed in the shaft. Since their erec-
ton the monument has never been
damaged.
The U. s. Department of Agricul-
ture in Farmers Bulletin, issues an
appeal to farmers to protect their
lives and property by erecting light
ming conductors There is no civil
lized government that does not use
and urge the use of lightning conduc-
tors.
The secretary Of one Mutual Fire
Insurance Company states that .tthare
is not loss on record of any build
ings being damaged by lightning TO
any great extent that has cable con-
ductors on it, "
The secretary of another company
for ten years states that we have not
paid one dollar on any building tf:at
was protected nor have ! known of
any building being burned that was
In that time we have paid several
thousands of dollars on buildings that
were not protected. !"
Another company states 1--WE have
( lost quite number of buildings BY
lightning which were not protected
WE nave IeuuCeu Tdte ou pdFHS that
are protected.
| believe, Mr.. President, the time
is not far distant when all companies
insuring country property viii charge
higher rates for unprotected than
protected property.
Thomas A. Edison states that he
has instructed his secretary i, reply
to all inquiries (and he has many)
that lightning conductors will surely
protect property when properly erect
ed.
Do conductors protect buildings is
a topic that should be considered by
the Farmers Reliance, a fire insur-
ance company the success of which
many in this room are interested in.
In my Judgment committee snould
be appointed to examine and invesli-
gate the different methods and report
to this Board those which to the COM
mittee seem worthy ofSuse. 1t may