Evening Republican, Volume 15, Number 178, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 July 1911 — Lightning Rod Investigation. [ARTICLE]

Lightning Rod Investigation.

There has always been more dr less controversy as to the efficiency of the lightning rod, but this matetr is likely to be settled at no distant time beyond all question of doubt. The authorities of the University of Illinois have undertaken to do this and bave been at work on the problem for some time. Last summer some valuable experiments were conducted but the results were not entirely satisfactory for the lack of suitable apparatus. During the coming summer the work will be continued on a very elaborate basis. The use of an open' field has been secured for the entire season and 'the investigation will be continued during the entire season In which thunder storms may be reasonably expected. In this field twelve 40-foot poles have been erected. Six of these are equipped with devices for registering the effect of lightning strokes at or near the poles. There Is a series of spark gaps with induction, resistance and capacity figures, so that the lightning may jump across the gaps or pass arovnd through shunt circuits. Any action due to lightning will be recorded on a moving strip of paper driven by clockwork so that the exact time of the electrical discharge can be told from the record. Three of the poles have been equipped with sharp needle points and three with brass balls.