The record-union., 1893-01-31
OUR INFORMATION BUREAU.
responses to Correspondents Seeking
Substantial Information,


Substantial Information.
For responses to questions of practical
value Mere puzzles, and the curious and
common, answers TO which ought To be found
IN the ordinary home library, will receive no
attention. Queries published without re-
sponses are invitations to furnish answers
10 make TINS department an information ex-
change also Communications must be brief
and signed with name and address,
EDS. RECORD MON: If a lady whose
husband is in the State Prison desires
can she marry without securing a di-
vorce? NJ. W.. City.
Certainly not without becoming liable
to bring up where her husband is-serv-
ing the State.
EDS. RECORD UNION: Who has the
appointment Of Collector of Internal Rev
enue? c., Sacramento.
1t falls within the category of Presi-
dental appointments.
EDS. REcoRD-U UNION: Please state
through your query column what is the
best preparation for cementing minerals
10 wood. j. M, Placer County.
There are many that you can buy of
any druggist. A good one is made two
parts of oxide of zinc, two of crushed
limestone one of pulverized grit. Use
with liquid made of six parts zinc dis
SOAh6u III COulillGTCldl uluTlallc 9ClQ, one
part sal amoniac and dilute the whole
with two-thirds its volume of water. 1t
makes a strong cement, but it is cheaper
to buy ready prepared cements. We will
name none as they all are rivals. In the
next issue of this Bureau we will give you
a simple formule that may serve your
purpose, that we have sent for.
EDS. RECoRD-UNIoN There has been
a discussion among some of us ''older
boys" about what caused the dark
day" that we used to hear the old folks at
home tell about. Could you give us some
light on the question: l. The date 2
What caused it. 3. How much of the
earth was darkened?
J. f. Y, White Rock.
In New England, May 10, 1850. Ex-
tended from Maine into New York and
New Jersey. Most intense in Massachu-
chusetts and lower part of New Hamp-
shire. Lasted from 10 A. NJ. until mid
night. So dark that print could not be
read and candles had to be lighted. Ami
mails mistook it for night and went to
rest, except the cats, which went on noe
turnal Serenades. a number but less
dark days have occurred in England.
Canada and the United States. AS to the
cause scientists differ. These theories
are advanced: Smoke from burning forests
floating high in the air. Volcanic exhaI-
alton OF smoke and ashes. Escape through
earth assures of vapors generated by in
ternal heat. Smoke caused by combus-
ton of meteOrs. Cosmical dust from
outer space regions. Dust raised from
deserts and moved by atmospheric cur
rents at great attitudes. Ordinary clouds
of unusual volume and density. The real
cause is not known-it is all matter of
theory.
EDS. RECoRD-UNIoN Will you kindly
mention the salient features Of civil
service reform" and also the explanation
of rotation in office ?'
INQUIRER, street.
l. That in certain grades of official serv-
ice, mainly clerical, fitness for place shall
be tested by examination at stated periods
of applicants. These are registered and
vacancies must be filed from the registry
in order. The idea is that political change
should not work change in such posi-
tions; that to secure efficiency the Gov
ernment should guarantee permanency,
and demand men who are proven capable
by examination. That this will lessen
political patronage and remove from poll
ties a source of corruption, It does not
relate to offices that are heads of depart
ments, or that are within Presidential
appointment. Extremists in civil service
reform would carry it beyond the limits
indicated and make it relate to all service
not filled by election, excepting only
Cabinet officials and personal
clerks of the President and heads
of departments and first deputies
of heads OF departments. Under civil
service removal can be had only for good
cause. ,. 1t means what it reads, and is
the opposite OF civil service. 1t is op-
posed to creating an official class, and
holds that changes in Office corresponding
to changes of administration is best for
the country. In its extreme or radical
meaning it represents the doctrine ito
the victors belong the spoils."
EDS. RECORD UNION: Please answer
through your Information Column' the
following questions: First, if there is a
school on the Pacific Coast in which
young men can learn to become profess
sionaI nurses, and if so, where is it. Sec
ond, if you can supply me with the ad-
dress Of any or all of the Alaskan can
ming and fishing companies in San Fran
cisco, and oblige Z, ). D., Antelope.
l. We believe there is training hos
pital for male nurses in San Francisco,
but cannot state now positively. There
is one in New York, endowed recently
by D. o. Mills. for fifty young men. In
San Francisco there is large
training-school for female nurses,
and one that costs so little that
after a few weeks students begin
to draw wages that are raised rapidly un-
til they are graduated. By addressing
any leading medical college in San Fran
cisco you can ascertain positively the ex-
act facts. Try the Medical Department
of the State University of San Francisco