Show lightning rods gain in favor weather bureau has been earnest advocate of I 1 protection ro of buildings prepared by the I 1 united states department of agriculture for more than thirty years the weather bureau of the united states department of agriculture has baa been an earnest advocate of the protection of buildings and other prop property efty against lightning by suitable rodd nig the bureau is frequently called upon to advise inquirers concerning the proper methods and materials to be employed occasionally plans fire are drawn up in detail for the protection oi 01 government structures in 1810 1910 the white house was after plans and specifications prepared by professor marvin study of losses to deter minno the relative liability of farm buildings to fire damage by lightning a study of lightning fire losses was made nent bently ly by the weather bureau of the states department of agriculture the average annual loss for the whole united states to Is a little over which Is probably a conservative 1119 ure illinois has the unenviable first place with irn an average annual loss of over a rall million llon dollars part of which may be attributed to industrial sections texas 13 next in order because ol of its large arta aria and the presence of highly inflammable oll oil storage tanks new york Is third for reasons similar to those affecting illinois losses in north in ie ie highly developed aw agricultural cal states of the north heavy losses are suffered especially through destructive tive cyclonic thunderstorms it if the index number showing relative liability of farm buildings to damage Is small in one state when compared with another having equally destructive tive and frequent thunderstorms it Is quite probable that protection against lightning Is more general in the former state michigan wisconsin minnesota and iowa are states where it Is estimated that somewhat more than half of the farm buildings are protected by |