808 TfiA^'SACTIO^'S of the Amebic a y Ixstitute. 



of exceeding importance. The requisites for a good telegrapli line 

 is strength and high conducting power. These seem to be secured 

 in the invention of Mr. Farmer. But in regard to tlie lightning rod, 

 strength, that is tensile strength, is not important. Iron is, we 

 know, a good conductor, and if made soft, a better conductor. He 

 could not see the difference between a good iron conductor and the 

 one presented by Dr. Boynton ; it was no safer. It certainly could 

 not be better than a good copper wire, as was used by Sir William 

 Harris. And to effect the same purpose an iron rod has only to be 

 made sevei> times larger. The making an iron rod equal to copper 

 is a mere question of expense, the w^eight of the iron having to be so 

 much greater than the copper. The French Academy of Science 

 some two years ago, made a report on the subject of lightning rods, 

 and the committee recommended the use of pure iron as the best for 

 making the rods ; so there does not appear any new advantage in 

 the rod here shown. 



Prof. J. A. Whitney stated that the manufacture of the ordinary 

 lightning rod is a special branch of business in itself, and these rods are , 

 made in sections of some twelve to fourteen feet long ; they, therefore 

 have to be put together in joints, which are apt to rust and work 

 loose, and many accidents have occurred from this cause, but the rod 

 here presented being in one continuous piece, is a recommendation 

 in itself. Tlie rod can also be put up by any ordinary workman. 



Prof. Phin replied that these would be good reconnnendations if 

 facts supported them. There were many places in this country where 

 continuous rods were used. He had seen many in the city of 

 Rochester, 



In the course of the debate, foreign opinions having been 

 freqiiently quoted, the chairman remarked that precedents and author- 

 ities would be excellent in a court of law, but that foreign authorities 

 in the matter of invention were a little behind American practice. 

 Almost every great invention of the present century has had its 

 origin in this country. Should the present idea prove of value, it 

 would be speedily adopted abroad. He would say, however, that 

 very many of the lightning rods erected in this country are almost 

 ■useless. 



Dr. Boynton stated that particular attention is given to the quality 

 •of the copper used in these rods. A cargo of co])per which recently 

 came from Lake Superior, more than half of it was rejected on 

 /iccount of its containing some two and a half per cent of antimony. 



