The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-08-16
ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.

ANSWERS TO CORRESPONDENTS.
BUSINESS LETTERs-E. L., City. 1t is not the
correct thing in writinga business letter to
single woman, either old or young, 20 address
her as ''Dear Miss" AS business letter is
always formal one, such an affectic nate word
as "dear'' has no place there. The proper way
to commence such letter is "sir, Madam
when written to woman, married or single,
and miss" when addressed to a young girl.
The word madam is derived from INA" (my)
dame" Qady), and is certainly a courteous
woman, be she old or young, single or married
ALUMINUM-C. c., East Oakland, Cal. Alu-
minum occurs in the products of decomposition
of minerals and in other forms. One of the
most important of these is clay, which is found
in all conditions of purity, from white kaolin
to ordinary dark-colOred clay. kaolln is the
aluminium salt of orthosilicic acid. The name
aluminium has its origin in the fact that the
salt alum was known at an early date, and the
metal was afterward isolated from 1t. There
are different processes of extracting the metal
from the clay. The specific gravity OF the metal
is from 20 to 81, according to the condition.
CANARY BrRDs-R. w. NJ, City. Canary birds
are often annoyed with small red lice. The
birds may be effectually relieved of them by
placing clean white cloth over the cage at
night. In the morning before sunrise there
will appear upon the cloth number of small
red specks, SO small that they can hardly be
seen with the naked eye. These are the insects
that are the source of annoyance to the birds.
If the cloth is allowed to remain on the cage
after the sun has risen the insects will return
TO the birds There are also powders that are
used to destroy the insects.
THE MAYFLowEE-E. E. o., City. None OF the
historical records of the State of Massachusetts,
or those of the Pilgrim Fathers which the
Query Editor has been able to find in this City
10 80 bn dnd an
Plymouth Rock, consequently it is impossible
to give the information asked for.
GAS METERs-w. A. ". g., City. There is no
law that requires gas com panies in this City to
demand deposit before furnishing gas to a
customer, but the companies demand a de-
post to protect themselves against possible
loss from persons who would move away be-
fore q collector could call for the amount
of the bill due.
HoYLE ON GAMEs-J. j., Antioch, Contra Costa
County, Cal. In the United States Hoyle is the
recognized authority on cards and dice, so
long as it applies TO games mentioned in the
book The paper you mention is looked upon
as au thority in the absence of any better, but
its rulings are often disputed.
THE MINING CoMPANY-T. L., Oakland, Cal.
The company organized for the purpose of de-
veloping mining property intends to operate
not only in California and Nevada, but in all
". ID,
street. New York City, is one of the prominent
members of the company.
SAN JOAQUIN Reconsideration, Oakland, Cal.
The following are the names of the directors of
the San Francisco and San Joaquin road, now
building: Claus Spreckels, John D. Spreckels,
W. f. Whittier, j. B. Stetson, Robert Watt, A.
H. Payson, Charles Holbrook, Leon Sloss, Al
vtnza Hayward, Isaac Upham and Thomas
Magee
CRITTENDENs DEATH-H. P. H., Oakland,
Cal. A. P. Crittenden, an attorney, was shot
by Laura D. Fair on board the ferry-boat Ell
Captain, on the o'clock trip from Oakland to
this City on the Sd of November, 1870. Crit
tenden died from the effects of the wound on
the 9Th Of the same month.
ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING-R. A. B., Wood
land, Yolo County, Cal. person who desires
to take course of study IN electricity or cleo
trical engineering in a university should have
good knowledge of advanced algebra. solid
geometry, trigonometry, physics, drawing and
either French or German.
PREHIsToRIc-H. A. B., City. In the refer
ence-room of the Free Public Library in this
City there can be consulted a catalogue of
books that treat of prehistoric times OF Ger
many, Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Austria and
Switzerland; also of relics of these countries.
JURORS FEEs-W. II. MICA. and A. B., Crescent
City, Del Norte County, CAL The act of the
last Legislature that allows fees all jurors in
the Superior courts does not apply to cities and
counties, consequently jurors in criminal cases
in San Fran cisco are not paid fees.
sAwMILL oUTFITs-W. R., Clipper Gap, Placer
County, Cal. The best way to obtain list of
the firms In San Francisco that deal in saw
mill outfits is to examine a San Francisco
directory. This column does not advertise any
business firms.
ENGLISH RAuwAYs-O. R. NJ, Haywards, Ala
media County, Cal. Shares of the Great Western
Railway and of the London and Southwestern
Railway are sold in the London market. The
latest quotations for the first named were 167
and for the latter 194.
THE ARTIsT-An Old Subscriber, City. The
artist who sketched the picture of the Relay
race cup that was on exhibition In a Market
street bicycle store show window several
months ago was +. Fl. Bushnell of Lhis City.
GOLD IN SEA SAND-C. c., East Oakland, Cal.
The reason that gold in the sea sand is not dis
solved and collected Is because it is exceed
ingly fine and covered with an oily substance
that prevents dissolution. The specific gravity
OF gold does not change.
ROYAL ENGINEERs-A. s., City. The duties of
a captain of the Royal Engineers, English
army, correspond to those of captain of the
army of the United States. The pay OF such an
official is IL shillings pence per day.
O'DoNNovAN RossA-A. O. g., City. O'Don-
noyan Rosa was in San Francisco during the
summer of 1876. Clark Lubby and Colonel
Francis Burke were here in June, 1871.
THE CYANIDE PRocEss-C. c., Oakland, Cal.
Cyanide of potassium is the discover used in
the reduction OF metal by what is known as the
cyanide process.
THE PREsIDENCY-S., City. native of the
United States, no matter what his religious be-
lief may be, can become candidate for the
Office of President of the United States.
CALAvERAs COUNTY FAIR-G. 81. W.. City.
There will not be any Calaveras County fair at
San Andreas this year.
PEOPLE TALKED ABOUT.
The Archduke Franz Ferdinand heir pre-
sumptive to the Austrian throne, who visited
this country last year, has given his diary to
the press. He dislikes Americans.