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Lightning Conductor

an appliance designed to protect a building and its inmates against destruction or damage by lighting. It was invented by Benjamin Franklin in 1755. In general an iron rod rises vertically from the roof of the building which it is designed to protect. Its height is from 6 to 10 feet, its thickness at the base two or three inches. Its top is of platinum or gilded copper. From the rod runs a wire cord, or a bar of iron, or strip of copper, to the ground, terminating in general in ramifications 18 to 21 feet below the surface, in many cases in a well. General opinion now favors a large number of rods with many points, and held off eral opinion now favors a large number from the building by means of supports.