Proceedings of the Farmers' Club. 325 



improvement in lightning-rods, we would as soon trust our property 

 to a rod constructed after the directions given by the inventor, as to 

 one made according to the latest devices, covered by the broad seal 

 of the United States patent office. It is true that during the last half 

 century we have learned something about rods and their mode of 

 action, and have acquired a more perfect knowledge of the special 

 points which demand attention, in the effort to secure perfect safety. 

 But it will be found on examination that Franklin's old rod embodies 

 all the points necessary for a perfect conductor, and that consequently 

 we are not at the mercy of any patent right monopoly in this matter. 

 Lightning-rods are useful. There are many instances on record 

 where buildings furnished with rods have been struck and injured. 

 But this is not to be wondered 'at when we reflect that fully one-half — 

 nay, perhaps three-fourths — of all the rods now actually erected vio- 

 late the fundamental principles upon which their efficiency depends. 

 Besides serious errors in regard to arrangement and continuity, it will 

 in general be found that it is only by the merest accident that a good 

 ground connection is ever secured. The cathedral of St. Peter in 

 Geneva, although so elevated as to be above all other buildings in the 

 neighborhood, has for three centuries enjoyed perfect immunity from 

 damage by lightning, while the tower of St. Gervaise, although much 

 lower, has been frequently struck. This doubtless arises from the fact 

 that all the towers of St. Peter are accidentally furnished with very 

 perfect conductors. The great column of London, known as the 

 Monument, erected in 1677 in commemoration of the great fire, 

 although over 200 feet in height, has never been struck, while much 

 lower buildings in the vicinity have not escaped. A still more striking 

 instance of the value of lightning-rods is afforded by a church on the 

 estate "of Count Orsini in Carinthia. This building was placed upon 

 an eminence, and had been so often struck by lightning that it was 

 deemed no longer safe to celebrate divine service within its walls. In 

 1730 a single stroke of lightning destroyed the entire steeple ; after 

 it had been rebuilt it was struck on an average four or five times a 

 year, without counting extraordinary storms, during which it was 

 struck from five to ten times in a single clay. In 1778 the building 

 was reconstructed and furnished with a conductor ; and, according to 

 Lichtenberg, up to 1783 — that is to say, during the space of five 

 years — the steeple had been struck only once, and this stroke had 

 fallen upon the metallic point without producing any damage. 



Lightning-rods should be made of the very best conducting mate- 

 rial, and of a size sufficient to carry off the heaviest discharge that is 



