The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1898-06-16
QUERIES.

The following questions have been
received from inmates. The editor in
vites questions on subjects of general
interest and will do his best to answer
them.
How and from what are the projec-
tiles used for the big guns made?
The projectiles fired from the heavy
rified ordnance now in use are very eX-
pensive, and the greatest accuracy is
REQ uired in their making. The project
lies made by the Carpenter Steel Co.
are cast in moulds much larger than
the finished shell. They are then ham
mered into shape in dies and machined,
after which they are hardened by Sc
cret processes and finally finished to eX-
act size a plug being fitted to the bored
interior. If the shells are then truly
hardened plate made of steel, one and
a quarter times the thickness of the
shell fired, and backed by three feet of
live oak. If the shell penetrates the
plate and backing without suffering in
jury the lot is accepted. The steel used
in these shells is a special grade of
chrome steel of high tensile strength
{power to resist pull like rope) the
test pieces frequently averaging 100000
pounds to the square inch.
Will you please mention the reason
why the Canadian French differs so
from the French language of France?
The difference is probably caused by
the fact that the original French set
tiers of Canada were from the province
of Brittany where dialect somewhat
similar to the French Canadian is
spoken In addition it may be posi-
BILE that from the large percentage Of
illiteracy in Canada, the inhabitants
have been unable to maintain their
language against the influence of its
surroundings and the encrOachments
of slang.
What is the area, population and
principal industry of Cuba? Does it
consist of one island or a group of
islands?
Cuba is the largest of the Antilles.
1t has a length of $50 miles and al av-
erage width of so miles, and contains
1920 square miles. The population
under the last census was 1885,
There is very little distinction between
the dry and rainy seasons, as showers
fall every month in the year. Hurri
canes are somewhat frequent, also
earthquakes. Cuba produces an abund-
ance of sugar, tobacco maize, rice, cof-
fee, yams and bananas, while in the
uncultivated districts vast herds of cat
tie are reared The value of the sugar
exported in a good year is $lO0,OO0,OOO.
Slavery war abolished in 1896. There
are about 1000 miles of railroad lines
in the island.
What is the area, population and prin-
Clpal industry of the Philippine islands?
Does 1T consist of one or more islands?
The Philippine islands are over 1900
il number with an area of over 10000
square miles and population of over
100000, three fourths of whom are
subject to Spain. The remainder are
governed by native princes. Luzon,
area 81 900 square miles, is the largest
The products are various. Among the
valuable trees are ebony, ironwood
cedar, sapanwood, the gum tree, orange,
citron, breadfruit, mango, cocoanut,
guava, tamarind, roseapple, ETC.,
other valuable products of the vegeta-
BILE kingdom are the banana, plantain,
pine apple, sugar cane, cotton, tobacco,
indigo, coffee, cocoa, cinnamon, manila,
cassia, ginger, pepper, etc. with rice,
wheat, maize and other cereals Gold
has been found in river beds, iron is
plentiful and valuable coal-beds have
been found. Sulphur is found in un-
limited quantities, also copper and
quicksilver and its combinations.
Manila hemp is one of the principal
exports and the cultivation of this
product is the principal occupation of
the inhabitants. These islands were
discovered by Magellan in 1921.