| Show Lightning Rod Idea Has Proved Franklins Franklin's Theory Ben Franklin FrankIin worked out the lightning rod idea on on Nov 7 1749 Up to perhaps about a half halt century ago the installation of lightning rods w was s as much a part of the standard equipment of buildings as the very shingles on the roof root But about that time two things happened First of ot these was was was' the lightning rod salesman perhaps the first advocate of the idea of high pressure pressure pressure pres pres- sure salesmanship Gangs of them toured the country selling cheap and practically worthless sets of lightning light light- ning rods which in many cases were more of a menace than a pro pro- Their work had the Important important Im im- result of ot convincing folks that lightning rods were not not- only useless but dangerous The second development was the growth of modern cities Filling the streets with wires and houses with ith gas pipes water pipes and electrical electrical electrical elec elec- circuits and also crowding street after atter street section after section section sec see tion of city and town with buildings the the very existence of modern construction construction construction con con- practically did away with the menace of lightning for wires and pipes arc reasonably good lightning lightning lightning light light- rods of ning and the c congestion buildings also serves much the same end Actually a oily city Is very nearly proof against lightning 4 Thus lightning rods became unnecessary unnecessary essary in thickly populated sections However outside of congested d areas liberally networked by electrIc electric electric elec elec- wires the p peril ril of ot lightning Is Isas Isas isas as grave and exposed buildings such as isolated dwellings even in large towns and particularly farm buildings on hilltops and hillsides are are protected in some way |
