18 THE LATE MR. WILLIAM STURGEON ON 



at equal distances from each other, to the base, where they 

 should be again united by a copper band. From any "part 

 of this band a single rod, reaching to the ground, would com- 

 plete the conducting system. 



92. Tall factory chimneys would require three rods from 

 top to bottom. They should be united in a ball directly over 

 the axis of the chimney, in the fashion of a bird-cage, and 

 again by means of a copper band about half-way between the 

 coping and the ground. 



93. In all cases of applying conductors to buildings, the 

 rods should be kept clear of the masonry, at least 3in. or 4in., 

 which may easily be accomplished by allowing them to pass 

 through oaken holdfasts built into the wall. There can be 

 no reason shown for the employment of deep pits or wells, 

 for the reception of the inferior extremities of conductors, 

 where brooks, drains, or gutters are near at hand; for light- 

 ning can be safely dismissed by continuing the rods hori- 

 zontally, just beneath the surface of the ground, to a few 

 yards from the building, and terminating them by a number 

 of sharp metallic points in any of those channels, which are 

 almost sure to be well supplied with water before any light- 

 ning descends from the clouds. 



94. By employing a system of conductors, instead of a 

 single rod, protection is insured against oblique discharges, 

 from whatever quarter they may proceed ; and the union of 

 the several branches allows of a distribution of the force 

 throughout the whole system. The spire turret of St. Chad's 

 Church, Cheetham Hill Road, Manchester, which was much 

 injured by lightning on the 23rd of May, 1850, has been 

 furnished with a system of conductors, similar to that de- 

 scribed (91), under my own superintendence. The main rod, 

 which reaches from the base of the spire to the ground, is 

 continued about 6 yards under ground, at right angles from 

 the side of the tower, and is bent down into a water-drain. 



