Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1912-04-16
A sEAsoNABLE SUBJECT
Lightning and Lightning Rods
Mans Power Over Electricity

Lightning and Lightning Rods
Mans Power Over Electricity
Lightning is one of the most CEN r'sffii
things in the world. Everybody has
seen it and knows something about it
nobody knows all about it. But we are
concerned with the manifestations of
lightning, how it acts and how it oper-
ates. 1t is the whole of our work to
study the laws of lightning or the ways
in which it acts, and to see how it may
be controlled and directed 80 that its
dreaded consequences may be averted.
Mans power over electricity at this
day, if you will but stop to think of it,
is the greatest wonder of the world
Think of the hundreds of thousands of
places where it is put to beneficial
use!
Think of the work it does, the time
it saves, the messages it speeds, the
cures it effects, and, when ignorantly
handled, the destruction it works. Elec-
tricity has been "known" for hundreds
of years, but it is only of recent years
that we have understood it well enough
to put it to this multitude of beneficial
uses. The telegraph is not old, the
telephone, electric light and electric
power have all come within the present
generation. Electricity has been in
existence always, but we are only now
really becoming acquainted with it.
We don't know what its essence is,
but we have come to understand suffi-
GENTLY how it operates to be able to
handle it, to direct it, to control it. to
harness it and make it our obedient
servant.
Practically all of our knowledge of
electricity which has enabled US to put
it to beneficial uses, has come within a
period of fifty years-most of it within
the last twenty-five years.
Now, let US get back to our own sub
ject, '1ightning." There are others to
look after the beneficial uses of elec-
tricity. A thousand have devoted their
energies to making electricity mans
servant to one who has made study
of how to make it harmless when moved
by the force of nature.
Lightning comes as result of cleo
tricity generated in natures workshop.
1t was no uncommon thing gener-
alton ago to see buildings destroyed by
lightning that had lightning rods upon
them. The trouble was with the light
ming rods and the way they were erec'
ted, and not with the Franklin princi-
Piles. People did not really understand
the teachings of DR.. Franklin and they
did not correctly apply his principles
You may have !ost faith in lightning
rods. A great many good people have.
1t is because they have had their con-
fdence abused by imposters and cheats
in the lightning rod business. Gangs
of men have in the past gone about the
country erecting snowy rods and max
ing pretense of protecting buildings
from lightning, when they knew moth
ing whatever of the subject with which
they dealt.
You have seen these same buildings
destroyed by lightning and have jump
ed at the conclusion that lightning rods
are not in any case protection. But
wait moment! Do not be so sweeping
in your judgment. 1t is not the fault
or failure of lightning rod principles. 1t
is fraud on those principles, nothing
more. Because irresponsible and un-
scrupulous men have imposed upon your
neighbors is no reason why you should
condemn the works of Benjamin Frank
lin.
1t is merely matter of getting the
right rod and having it properly erec'
ted. the best rod in the world could
not make your building safe from light
ming unless properly applied.
1t is only when the rod is properly
erected according to the definite re-
quirements of each particular building.
taking into account the laws and rules
which are infeXible-and must always
be observed in the control of lightning,
that lightning rod is effectiye.
You cannot afford to be governed by
old time prejudices, when you take in
to consideration the fact that l have
for the past ten years been erecting
lightning rods, and as yet have not had
scratch of damage done by lightning
to any building that had the privilege
of placing reds upon. When l started
this work ten years ago there was few
that patronized my work and many
that laughed at the idea. Today there
are many patronizing my work and
few very few, that laugh at the idea.
This has all been brought about through
hard work and straight and honest
dealing.
This matter of lightning rods should
be personal one with you. Is your
home protected? if not, can you afford
to take the chances of it's destruction.
You may have been spared up to this
time, but give it moments thought