36 



per cent., and in Michigan, under inspection, 99.9 per cent. In those two states 

 they are much ahead of us in the art and science of redding buildings. 



Metallic roofs should be grounded at two corners at least, the cable being 

 stapled or soldered to the metal roof at the eaves, and either points or sharp-edged 

 ridge-boards should be used. It is not necessary to run the cable up to and along 

 the peak. Simply fasten the uprights to the metal roof at the ridge. The metal roof 

 of cupolas should be connected to the main roof. Conductor pipes from metallic 

 roofs should be grounded. Under no circumstances should metal roofs be grounded 

 from the peak, for if a stroke occurs low down on the roof the current will not 

 travel upward to the peak, but will leave the roof at the lowest point. 



A windmill on a barn should be connected to the cable, also the bottom end of 

 the shaft either connected to the cable or separately grounded to perpetual moisture. 



Wire Fences. 



7. Fences. — A wire fence is not properly grounded, unless in large fields there 

 is a grounding at least every twenty rods, though closer together is better, and in 

 barn yards or small yards where cattle are herded, at every corner. Where fences 

 are connected with a building there should be a grounding at the first post from 

 the building, and moreover the ground-rod from the building should be connected 

 with the fence. A fence grounding should consist of a rod or cable equal to three 

 No. 18 wires or one No. 9 wire stapled over or connected with each lateral wire of 

 the fence, and extending at least three feet into the ground. If the ground wires 

 are allowed to project a few inches above the fence, strokes are prevented in the 

 vicinity just as by the points on a building. The fence groundings should be made 

 of the same material as the fence wires. 



8. Shade Trees. — Where there are a few trees under which stock gather for 

 shade it would be both wise and feasible to rod the trees. The same principles 

 apply here as in general redding. 



Conclusion. 



From the days of Franklin to the present time the value of lightning rods 

 has been an undetermined quantity, physicists of course holding that they must be 

 highly beneficial, the greater mass of the people, however, retaining an open mind, 

 while some accepting the teachings of science rodded their buildings; and still 

 others counted absurd the idea that rods and points could have any worth in pre- 

 venting damage to buildings by lightning. From time to time practical data have 

 appeared giving one side of a comparison, but lacking the other — e.g., " A certain 

 insurance company over a period of years has never paid a dollar of insurance on 

 a rodded building damaged by lightning," but they were unable to tell what per- 

 centage of their risks were rodded, so no definite comparison could be made. 



Now, however, the Department of Agriculture is pleased to present the data 

 herein contained, giving complete comparisons, which prove unmistakably that 

 lightning rods properly installed are almost absolute protection against lightning. 



These practical results the farmers of Ontario can appreciate better than 

 scientific statements, and with these at hand the Department can safely recommend 

 the roddinff of farm buildings in accordance with directions above given. 



