Evening star., 1932-07-03

mission lines from pole to pole and then to
ground.
Today these shield wires intercept about SO
per cent of direct lightning strokes and carry
them harmlessly into the ground This was one
Of the first theories of Steinmetz-that lightning
could be carried off into the ground without
causing damage.
Incidentally the lightning rod, which came
into disrepute many years ago-probabiy more
because Of the high pressure salesmanship en-
ployed than for any other reason-has virtually
been indicated by the most recent discoveries
of the engineers
And it has been determined that the modern
home is one of the safest places in the world
in an electric storm, aside from tall building
which has a steel framework.
The chance of person being struck by light
ming in his home is only one in several million
THE count-y's best electrical engineers are the
] authorities for the statements of the safety
against lightning of the modern home and the
modern office building
Homes standing top of hills, with no
trees about them, are in the most perilous
poSitions-and yet their chance OF being struck
is about in a hundred years In the
average city home where houses of about
equal height lightning is likely to single your
home out once in 1000 years-or it might be
once in 1000 years.
And for the peace of mind of those who live
in homes perched on hilltops there is only
about chance in several million that the
bolt that comes once every hundred years viii
strike your house.
ND even If it did, say the engineers who
n now toy with artificial lightning bolts of
as much as ,5o0oooo volts. tt might tear up
the roof, or perhaps set fire to the roof, but
it would not be likely TO get any closer 70 the
occupants of the house.
There is reason for this, in the modern
home at least. The bolt, when it struck would
probably encounter the electric house wiring
and would be carried impotent to the ground.
Or perhaps it would get into the plumbing
system and speed of into the earth, leaving
occupants of the house unhermed
The bed-haven of many who fear lightning
is safe place to be. But there are any
number of places just as safe The frebox Of
the furnace would perhaps be the very safest
place. say the scientific men who are dealing
with lightning
This is, in effect, a solid iron room per-
fectfy grounded which would be an ideally
safe place for human to be-" says E. B.
McEachron, research engineer. Since it seems
impossible to be there, however, we should
simply carry on. if we are in the house, with the
ordinary routine.
But We should remain away from overhead
wires keep away from the radio, not take a
BATH be chary about using the telephone and
keep away from metal objects of appreciable
size. Then we are in little danger Some of
the old ideas about protection really sound,
after ALL
One of the old ideas about lightning is that
it is not wise to stand in open doorway or
near an open window during an electrical
storm. That theory is right, according to Mr..
McEachron. 1t has been proved. he says, in
several different ways. that lightning can be
moved from its path by the wind
This is possible, he says, because many light
ming discharges consist of a succession of dis
charges too rapid for the eye to follow but
not too rapid for the wind to blow along
bolt headed for the ground might be caught by
the wind and blown in the direction of the
person in the door or near the window. with
fatal results. But such instances rare, he
says
BOUT the much-abuse lightning rod, the
\ engineer says it will protect buildlng-
If properly installed-99 times out of 100 and
prevent fire and property damage. 1t is true,
he says. that lightning rods are worthwhile on
isolated buildings such as farmhouses and
barns
The average home is not likely to be dam
aged by lightning because of the many outlets
to the ground for lightning if it should strike
These include water pipes. vent pipes. radio
antenxa kads and the house wiring system