Evening Republican, Volume 16, Number 5, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 5 January 1912 — LIGHTNING DAMAGE MAY BE PREVENTED [ARTICLE]

LIGHTNING DAMAGE MAY BE PREVENTED

Protection froth lightning Is Jept that recurs with the coming of each summer In violence of an atmospheric electric disturbance, accompanied by awe-inspiring flashes of .-figfctning there ar'e but "few who have not desired the protection of a lightning proof shelter. The prpfcabllity of an individual building; being struck by lightning is really very Slight but there is always a possibility of such an occurrence and also, that the stroke might be attended with considerable violence; more than that the building might take Are. That lightnfng rods are a real protection to buildings from lightning has beep proven so many times that their value la no longer questioned, but the possibility of obtaining experimental data is so limited that definite rules for the establishment of the rods and conductors have never been formulated. For many years, lightning rods were iookeu upon with suspicion in the country, because their sale for a considerable period was used as a means to-de? fraud the unwary. The formation of lightning is very imperfectly understood but experience with its vagaries and a knowledge of the laws of high-tension electric currents has established a fairly good understanding of -the methods of constructing lightning conductors for al) ordinary discharges. It is very well known i„at lightning is the discharge Of a large amount of electricity In a very short space of time and that whatever affords it a passage to the earth is apt to be badly damaged, unless the vehicle happens to be a good conductor of electricity and of sufficient size to transmit the amount of electric energy the flash contains; in which case it passes away doing no damage at all. As a storm developes the electrically charged clouds pass over the earth and when the electricall intensity becomes great enough to break down the resistance of the intervening air, the resulting charge, will pass into the earth by the most convenient path. This is commonly some high object of the lanflheape, a building, a pole, a tree or any other object that extends up from the earth. If the object,is a conductor of electricity and connected \f!th the earth, the lightning will pass into the ground without the lekst damage being done but If it is not a good conductor, the havqc that is wrought in an instant is sometimes appalling. - Building with metallic roofs that ire properly connected with the earth are far better protectors from lightning than could be given by Vods Building, that are completely covered with sheet metal and well connected with the earth are practically lightning proof. Covered in this manner, buildings have been known to be repeatedly struck by lightning without the least damage. The sheet-icon granary, so common in the west, token well conhected with the earth may be considered lightning proof. The ground connections mentioned above may be made of metallic rods that extend well into the earth and securely fastened to the metallic covering of the buildings. In considering the form of lightning conductors-it is well to keep in mind the fact thbt a metal covered building well connected with the earth is practically a lightning proof and that, one with a metallic roof, well grounded is excellently well pro- 1 tected if not perfectly safe. If then, the roof of a building possesses a netalic ridge, eave-troughs and down ipouts, these will afford very good protection it they are a)l connected »nd well grounded. A roof covered with a metallic screen, as a chicken screen, makes an-excellent protector whpn m-°P®rly grounded. It must he remembered that the ground connection is a positive necessity and too much care - cannot be exercised in Its construction. The earth is the great reservoir of electrical energy and it is always at zero potential. If a discharge, of lightning can be directed into' the moist earth by a conductor, its energy is soon dissipated but the ground connection must he of considerable area and extend well into the moist earth. A piece of galvanized pipe driven Into the ground seven or eight feet makes a good “ground,” Large buildings must have two or more such “ground.” The connecting wires must be securely fastened to tue ground connections. In the matter of conducting wires, the U. S. Weather Bureau recommends a number three, galvanized iron wire as amply sufficient in size for ordinary lightning protection. If metallic downspouts are used as conductors the connections should be made, with the "grounds," with rivited joints. Copper conductors give no better protection than iron if the iron is kept covered to prevent it from rusting. Wire fences are often the cause ol .damage by lightning because of the method of construction. If the fence wires are grounded the danger from this cause will disappear. Ground wires may be madekf ordinary fence wire and Should be connected with each of the wires of the fence and extend Into the,-ground three feet. 3uch “grounds” should be made for each 100 feet of fence. For early fruit of tomatoes, stake, tie and trim the vines. In this,way they receive the full benefit of the early season’s sun and_ new tomatoes witt ripen severs' weeks earlier.. although the plants will not -bear so much nor live so long. Why is It that when a man begins studying French the first thing he wants to learn to say is, ;* What’ll you tereT* • -r ; ■ - Never drive a horse with so loose a rata that you can not instantly command the, situation if necessary. 9 v • -. . . * V