321 



whether those persons, who are but negatively charged with electricity, are 

 more liable to be struck by lightning than those who are positively char- 

 ged ; in short, whether one who is, or can be an operator, is more exposed 

 than one who is not. As to this, I know nothing, and therefore can say 

 nothing. By reasoning from analogy, it would seem to favor the idea of 

 more danger to the operator than to others. But I know of no facts that 

 would settle the question. It is known that persons have been struck by 

 this fluid, while others in company with them, were not hurt. But 

 whether the reason here suggested, was the real cause of the diflferencc, 

 has not, to my knowledge, been ascertained. It could be, by ascertain- 

 ing the characters of the different parties, to such a distinction. I have 

 known of but one person being struck by the fluid, who was an operator, 

 and he had a shovel in his hand at the time, which might have attracted 

 the fluid. The fluid struck the man first, glanced to the shovel, and 

 passed off, and the man yet lives. The fluid, undoubtedly, had greater 

 afiinity for the shovel than for the man, or it would not have left the one 

 for the other. But whether it would have touched the man, or not, if he 

 had not had the shovel in his hand, is very doubtful. I think operators, 

 in this matter, need borrow no trouble, or spend no sleepless nights. 

 Respectfully, your obedient servant, 



ALFRED BRUNSON. 

 To, Albert C. Ingham, Esq. 



Sec. of the Wis. State Agr. Society. 



THE MECHANICAL AND MANUFACTURING ARTS, THEIR 

 CONDITION AND WANTS, AND THE RELATION THEY SUS- 

 TAIN TO THE STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Rochester, Wis., December, 1852. 



Dear Sir : — I received your letter some time since, requesting me to 

 prepare a paper for insertion in the second volume of the Transactions 

 of the State Agricultural Society, and suggesting as a subject, "The Me- 

 chanical and Manufacturing Interests of Wisconsin, their present condi- 

 tion and wants, and the relations they should and do sustain to the State 

 Agricultural Society, and their duty in relation thereto." 



