144 TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE. 



up idly, and have no money but what is given you, put it out at interest, 

 and then come and support yourself a year or so by day's work, when you 

 can safely use it. The kind of business you have been accustomed to is 

 comparatively of little consequence. If one can walk to the east, he can 

 walk to the west. Some have nothing to come with. It is difficult to 

 advise them. Industry and patience will go far. If one has a family and 

 no money what can he do ? Still, fair intelligence being given, one can 

 work wonders, providing he only has the constitution of a horse and the 

 energies of a lion. Such can get money anywhere." 



Adjourned. JOHN W. CHAMBERS, Secretary. 



August 12, 1862. 

 Mr. Geo. H. Hite, of Morrisania, N. Y., in the chair. 



Lightning Conductors. 



Mr. Solon Robinson. — I present a letter from Roundout, N. Y., asking 

 the following information: 



"1. Common iron, liable to rust, should it be used for lightning rods, and 

 what size should the iron be ? 



" 2. As the rod must have some support in its descent to the ground, what 

 is the best non-conductor through which it should pass, and how should 

 that non-conductor be fastened to the building ? 



" 3. Should the rod be pointed with copper or quicksilver, or with what 

 else, to afford the greatest attraction to the fluid as it passes ? 



"4. What distance will a good rod, properly put up and pointed, attract 

 the lightning ? 



"5. Considerable damage has been done in this vicinity already by light- 

 ning this season, and many people are persuaded that a rod, properly put 

 up, will afford protection to their property, yet do not know how to do it 

 as it should be done; and there are so many men going round the country 

 recommending this and the other plan, this and the other non-conductor, as 

 best suits their fancy or their interest, that we really do not know what is 

 best." 



Mr. Solon Robinson.— I will answer these questions in this order, giving 

 my opinion: 



1. Common iron rods, in continuous lengths, to reach from ten feet above 

 the roof to ten feet below the sill of a building, may be used, and it should 

 be three-fourths inch diameter. 



2. It may be fastened to the building with wood or iron. Insulators are 

 not necessary. 



3. The rod should not be pointed with quicksilver nor copper, but with 

 gold or platinum, as it only possesses attractive power while very bright. 



4. I cannot say, but doubt its attractive power over half the area it is 

 usually put up to protect. 



5. If any one is persuaded that a lightning rod is a protector, I advise 

 him to put up one upon every building he owns, and if the building is ten 

 feet across, put up two or more, so as to have the points not more than ten 



