Ladysmith news-budget. [volume] (Ladysmith, Rusk County, Wis.) 1907-1927, 1913-03-28
RODS Do PROTECT
IF PROPERLY INSTALLED, LIGHT
MING LOSSES CAN BE PRE-
VENTED
BULLETIN FROM FIRE MARSHALL
Says No Large Loss Can Be So Eas.
lily And Cheapiy Prevented

ny RHu Snedply FreVehIed
Last year some editors made light
OF our issuing a lightning bulletin
in the cold month of March Their
answer came in a lightning loss in
Wisconsin of SO. 1880 in April and
$l49,6 ,655. in May; so another warn
ing to rod buildings ought not to
come amiss at this time.
All state fire marshals know that
lightning rods do protect. The exper-
fence of insurance companies fur
nishes further proof.
Thirty Ohio Mutuals in 1911 paid
lightning losses as follows: On build
ings rodded $25.51, on buildings not
rodded So, $500 Thirty-four Penn
sylvania Mutuals paid like losses as
follows: On buildings rodded $116,S0,
on buildings not rodded $77 l66.30.
Our department records for the
last half of 1912 show a fire loss
due to lightning, as follows: Three
fires on rodded buildings $4,10500.
226 fires on buildings not rodded
1894 ,OS0.O0.
The facts in the three cases where
lightning struck rodded buildings are
these: First, the rods were up 20
years. The owner knew nothing of
their condition or depth of ground
ing. Second, a barn was rodded A
Silo was then erected near the barn,
but not rodded. Lightning struck the
silo and fire was communicated to
the barn. Third, there was but one
ground rod, and that went TO a depth
of 31a feet only.
These instances rather prove than
refute the fact that lightning rods pgo-
tect
Lightning in this country destroys
more property than matches, sparks
and kerosene together, and more
shan any other cause, except defec-
live flues. 1t kills two and one-half
times as many people as railroads
kill passengers.
No large fire loss can be prevent
ID so easily and cheaply as that
from lightning.
installation
MATERIALS-Use a copper cable B.
rod or one of galvanized iron or
steel Iron is not as good a conductor
rs copper but dissipates the energy
If the flash better and is less likely
10 cause side flashes. Copper cables
should weigh three ounces or more
Der lineal foot. All points should be
tipped with nOn-cOrrOding metal.
LOCATION-Rods should extend
5rom moist earth, over the building,
to moist earth on the other side.
Placing rods at diagonally opposite
corners is best. On the building rods
should be run along the ridge Avoid
placing rods near interior piping.
POINTS-All chimneys, Cupolas
and ventilators should have separate
points. Points should not be more
than twenty feet apart. A rod should
run direct from an outside chimney
10 the ground.
METAL WORK-Roof, cutters, hay
carriers and all other exterior metal
work should be connected with the
rods or grounded separately.
FASTENINGS-Rod should be fas-
tened with clips of the same mater
ial as the rod, and held at a dis
lance of one inch or more from the
roof to prevent leaves from lodging.
Never use so-called insulators.
GROUNDING-All rods should be
grounded to a depth of not less than
eight feet more, if necessary to
reach permanent moisture. Light
ming seeks underground water beds.
You can never overdo the matter of
grounding A copper or steel ground
)late is helpful
WIRE FENCES-Groundin wire
fences at every sixth post would pre-
vent the heavy loss of live stock.
MAKES-There are about twenty
good makes of rods. We cannot and
10 not recommend any particular
make.
r. NJ. PURTELL,
State Fire Marshal.