The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-17
HOUSTON POST LETTER BOX

tThis department 10 fntenoco 10 answer
questions that are Of general Interest Its
main object is to supply out-of-tne-way facts
and curious Information. Questions OF per.
scnai interest only will not be answered. Nc
business or personal addresses will be given
All correspondence should 10 addressed to Thu
letter BOX. care Houston Post. Owing 10 tina
large number OF questions received. answers
can NOT always BIZ given promptly
what is the oidcs. city in the United states
| Of over 10000 population? TT. 4
| The Oldest city in tho United States Is Al
bany, n. Y, which was Incorporated In
1856, Philadelphia dating fifteen years later.
~
| Can you tell me II jerked beef s imported
into this country from South America?
C.v.w.
| We understand that more than 100000
worth OF the product has been shipped in one
| year from Uruguay to the United states. but
| is reshipped principally to Cuba and Porto
Rico.
| read OF tho Philippine buffaloes rolling
in the mud. Why do they do so? ROM
The buffalo is favorlte beast of burden
with the Filipinos and is very fond of the
water, often ending Its bath with roll in
the mud and slime until 1t has a coating over
Its side that deHes the insects that would at
times otherwise make life = burden to It.
49,
| Where can I purchase Boer nag?
T.v.w
| We doubt II the nag Of the Transvaal re-
public is easily found on sale in this coun-
| try. The standard under which the Beers
are now hghting is exactly that of The Meth
erlands-three bars red, white and blue-with
the exception OF an addition OF upright
green bar where the flag is Joined to the
staff.
| What became OF DR.. Jameson? Was he
| sentenced after the raid in the Transvaal?
HAIR.
| DR.. Jameson went to Durham. Natal, not
long ago. He can not keep away from Trans
vaal agitation, even though after the raid he
surrendered to the Beers. was turned over
to the British authorities, was tried in Lon
don and sentenced to Is months imprison-
ment without hard labor.
| 49,
| What is the Pasig river In Luzon like?
T.V.G.
! The Pasig river is fourteen miles long and
brings the waters of the great inland pond
Laguna de Bay down to Manila bay. ordi-
narily it is a sluggish stream, averaging over
100 yards IN width and its depth varies from
three to twenty-five feet. In the rainy season
| 1t comes In food from the lake to the lower
lying city and spreading over lagoons at the
outlet. The native quarters are subject to
overflow. and under the dwellings that stand
up on piles six or eight feet high. the waters
sweep.
l. Do Englands colonies pay taxes to the
mother country? 2. Can England in time
of war with foreign country demand troops
of her colonies, for instance In this war with
the Beers? g. Does England allow other
countries to trade with her colonies upon
the same terms that she trades with them ?
ADD.
| 1. Englands colonies do not pay taxes In
any form to the mother country. 2. In the
event OF war Great Britain can ALWAYS rely
upon the material support of her colonies.
| 3. England allows complete liberty to her
colonies with respect to trade and tariff. Each
colony makes Its own tariff to suit Its re-
qurements, taxing the mother country and
sister colonies at It's discretion, subject only
to the restriction that it must not discrimi-
nate against any portion of the empire IN
favor Of a foreign country.
~ y
| What are the qualifications required OF
applicants for enlistment in the signal corps.
u. S. A.? What is the pay of those In this
branch of the service, the length or service.
and where are recruits receiVedF CAV
The qualifications are subject to change and
have been modified within a few weeks As
we understand them, they now require the
applicant to have sound body, good moral
character. to be under % years OF age, and to
understand telegraphy. The pay per month
ranges from sls, SIT, $40, s34 and s45 up, with
90 per cent additional In war time. Nearly
all the regular recruiting stations have been
authorized to receive enlistments for the sig
nal service. Whether enlstments are now
wanted We can not say. For further informa-
ton address "Chief Signal officer OF the
Army. Washington. D. c."
~
Is the United States department of agri-
culture doing anything to make tea cuiture
in this country successy N.N'N
The experimentation at Pineburst. S. c., or
the growth and manufacture of tea bcgar
about ten years gao. At the commencement
It was wisely on a small scale. but has beer
gradually increased until now over fifty acres
have been planted in tea. When the plant.
arrive ut full bearing, the yield should be
says an authority here at least 10000 pounds
Of high grade tea; and this should suffice
for the object in view. viz. to determine
whether commercial tea may be proftabl,
grown under the local conditions OF soil
climate and labor. and yet more. whether th'
American people can be brought to buy an'
relish 1t. The annual output of dry ties
from Pinehurst has been as follows;
Pounds. Pounds
5000 az 90 1896 ........ LOTT 4C
1919 1919 '"''''" 107 IL 1897 .. 1,5o5. "a
isSa 45321 1898 ..... 2, 96S &c
1905 ........... se7.o3 1899 TO Oct l. $500 oc
~