The San Francisco call., 1898-08-20

COMMODORE-A. s., City. The rank of commodore in the United States navy was created in 1862. In July of that year the rank was conferred 6n seventeen off1- cers who were on the retired list and on eighteen who were on the active list. You will have to write to- the Secretary Of the Navy to ascertain which of the thir- ty-five received the first commission.
 SANDWICH ISLANDS-W. c. and oth- CTS. Newville, Glenn County, Cal. It is not the province of the department of Answers to Correspondents to advise peo- ole to go into this or that business, to in- vest money, or to go to th1s or 5iat that coune it is your desire to go to the sandwich Islands, now that they have become American territory. you must take your chances of becoming prosperous and ad- vancing, just as you would in going to any other country. If you have energy, ability and pluck you will probably succeed Wher- ever you desire to locate.
 TO KILL BLACK ANTS-R. R., City. Turpentine squirted by means of a sew ing machine oiling can into cracks where the ants assemble will destroy them. Wormwood leaves scattered about their haunts will drive them away.
 It Is said that houses infected with ants, red or black, may be disinfected by lit tie attention. The remedy suggested is as follows: "A sponge is the best thing. Sprinkle it with dry white sugar; the
 
 The ants will go in large numbers into the cells of the sponge after the sugar, and they can be destroyed in boiling water. The sponge can then be squeezed out, sugared again and returned to the infect ed place for another haul and this kept up until all are caught.
 PEANUTS-W M H., San Diego, Cal. In the culture of peanuts the soil has to be taken into consideration. Light gray soil, without being too sandy, produces the most marketable crops, the light col ored nut The pods partake of the color of the soil. The nut will not fruit ex- cept in calcareous soil, which must be light and clean. Planting should be done as soon possible after all danger of frost Is past in ridges three feet apart inches p the ridge. The kernels. before planting are carefully huIled, for if the skin covering them is broken the chances are against their growing. The cuItiva- and the weeds down. The yield is from twenty-five to thirty bushels to the acre
 POsTOFFICE. TREASURY AND MINT-K. w., City. In the Postal De- partment the hours are eight for carriers For clerks the office hours are generally eight, but If occasion requires they must put in as many more hours as the service requires At the Treasury Department the hours are from 10 a. m. to pm, ex- cept Saturdays, when the office closes at 1 p. m. The hours at the Mint are from g I'm to p. m.
 The salaries at the Mint range from S2 25 per day to $4500 year. In the Treas ury Department the salaries are from $S20 to $4OO0 year; and in the Postoffice from $1 a day to $6000 year. To give the sal ary list in detail would occupy about a column of room, and that amount of space this department cannot devote to one answer. If you wish to know any particular salaries this department will furnish the amount paid.
 | A TWENTY PIECE-F. L.. M, Salmon Falls, Cal. In the coinage of United States gold coin all gold is made goo fine, and the value of this Is per grain 1 .03ST6. In every twenty-dollar piece there are 516 grains of 900 fine gold, so that i the intrinsic value of gold in double eagle Is $20.00016. In other words, tWen- l ty-dollar piece issued from the hints of 1 the United States contains, exclusive or l the alloy used to harden the coin, gold 1 of the value of $20 and small fraction.
 The copper alloy used fGr the purpose Of hardening coin is worth about cents per
 ounce, and the value of the alloy in a
 twenty dollar piece is 50 little that 1t can l not be stated in figures that any but master in such would understand.
 In the hints standard gold bullion may be deposited in any amount for the benefit l of the deposftor without charge for coin
 age, but when othet than standard bull l lion is received for coinage a charge is
 made for parting, or for refining, or tor copper alloy, as the case may be. Refin- l ing is the elimination from the bullion of l all base metal. Parting is the separation 1 of any silver which may be contained in 1 the bullion. The charges for these opera