EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETINS. 



209 



menting on the loss of live stock by lightning in 1898, says in his Sept. 

 1898 monthly review: 



"These reports show the interesting fact that of 266 head of live 

 stock killed by lightning, 118 were found in close contact with wire 

 fences; and also, that these fences were not provided with ground 

 wires. That is to say, 44 per cent of the losses of stock may be caused 

 by contact with wires charged with electricity. 



"Unquestionably wire fences, as now constructed serve as death traps 

 to live stock, causing a vast amount of loss every year. And it is 

 also quite evident that a considerable percentage of damage may be 

 avoided by the use of ground wires at frequent intervals, in the con- 

 struction of wire fences. In some of the reports, it was stated that 

 there were evidences that the lightning struck the fence at a considerable 

 distance from the point where the stock was killed." 



During 1898, Michigan lost live stock to the value of $1,695 by 34 



Fig. 5. 



lightning strokes. Her smaller loss compared with Iowa was doubtless 

 due to the smaller number of wire fences used at that time in this 

 more timbered state. 



The grounding of fence wire is a very simple and inexpensive matter. 

 All that is needed is to force a pointed rod down about 3 feet along 

 the outside of every fifth or sixth post, and put down a piece of No. 

 9 or 10 galvanized wire, the wire being long enough to reach the top 

 of the post. Then fasten this wire with staples so that it is in contact 

 with all the horizontal fence wires. If the fence is being put in, such a 

 wire may be stapled to the post before it is put on the ground. These 

 ground wires should not be farther apart than 75 or 80 feet. 

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