The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1901-06-03
HOUSTON POSTLETTER BOX

main object Is TO supply out-ofthe'way
facts and curious Information. Questions
OF personal interest only Will not be
answered. No business or personal ad-
dresses Will be given. Questions as to the
value. etc. OF old coins and stamps viii
not be answered. All correspondence
should be addressed to The Letter Boz.
care Houston Post Owing to the large
number Of questions received. answers can
not always be given promptly
r. L.--o. What is the meaning Of pan.
Buffalof
A. Pan-American means Of or pertaining
to both North and South America. In the
connection you mention the term Is used
to convey the idea that the exposition has
TO do With all American countries.
~
G VI. H.-Q. Who're can I get and what
Is tho castor plant or Palma Christi, that IS
supposed To keep on mosquitoes
a. You viii no doubt he able 10 get the
seed Of the Palmo Christi. or castor oil
plant, from ans Of the seed houses which
advertise In The Post The plant grows
as a woody perennial in the tropics aud is
cultivated as an herhaceous annual In tenn
peratc regions. II has ornamental peltate
and palmatcly cleft foliage II you wish
more detailed information you will no
doubt he able 20 secure It from the seed
companies mentioned.
Subscriber.~Q. How many railroads are
there At indianapolis
A. Counting branches, etc. there are
twenty.six.
lnquisitlve Q Kindly inform me In what
century was the year 1900. also. what was
the first day Of the Twentieth century
A. The Ppst has replied 10 this question
so very often that another answer seems
almost wholly superhuous However, for
the benefit Of this particular correspondent.
It may he stated that the year 1900 was
In the Nineteenth century aud that the
first day Of the Twentieth century was
January /. 1901.
W H. Warren q win you please toll
me whether or not there are any mineral
rods made that viii locate iron lead and
cured?
a Many Of these so,called mineral rods
and "dlvnlns rods" are advertised for sale.
hut The Post is In possession Of no In
formation 70 indicate that they have ever
been successfully used. The Posi- would
not recommend their purchase
~
land a. doss MI, a ara grow on sandy
w when ana btSS 'oH r'n 5 sur neltet
I've sowedg a, Win ~ tb r,gS nIye V"
mateT
a. Alfalfa will grow In almost any Kind
Of deep soil provided It has q sufficient
amount Of moisture for its roots II viii
Nv, grow on 'ahd Wh"h Us ever covered
",ll "'t't Tor period of as much as
lNVn'y 'io"r hours conSecniyely' as SO much
surface moisture VIII rot tho plant As
peiore stated however. II must have plenty
OF moisture Tor the roots and must also
nave nm abundance of moisture 10 start the
seed "hen hrst sowed High land 10 this
sectlon would no douht give better salts
faction than low land y, After stand"
10 soc,raa 49,. ne. '''n'
out rcsowing IL saId g. ,oa
years Fields over ss,v go. w.,
known 70 evist Aho,, .h,.a -, wv AIRY
is necessary hefora ornn se e"'S s''m, ~
hut after tho, ,hroo a. va" =" W.
year mny no made IN ,,,o,,a ''"Ea pc,
successfully In Harris conntr ana $50,
say 1t may he raised In any part Of this
section provided tho land on rbto,, !, A.
nIortsd ts ID, W. ~ W ""'" Is
J. I'm tho river hot,o,,. '"''''
|
Nfrs &c - ~
mo If the population Of The fose Ini"rn M
| 1anada has Increased or diminished since
nonu I, tinn census or 1871 and what the
- Ia hard,- W. y. ,I'l
latto, or ma ru|'"" Una, 'he popn'
Gtntn,shaa "'',n'o" OF canada has
non,,Ia,,nr ,oo, rNst zen years Tue
no go. Mn'u 'ne last census
cons,s ~ en-, n.,.,-, ue'enhIal
thts ,oa. 'nlp'e wan ne taken
,pnorn,od \, ,,.n, ~, ,a iv""N OF Is
| tpforn,,,,,,,, .,...,, va "Nu' !" give any
10, ~ tho I,H S,,ut '"' present P'pu'a'
| '',On
| s,,,,.o.n
rock asssye1 70 s soe Gb 1nIa one have
contains goldy ''
A. There is government ASSAY o,sce
at Carson City, New, with Roswell X
Colcord, sssayer. In charge. There X n
similar office at Denver, with I =
Hodges, assayer In charge.
~
Marine. q What is the SALARY NJ ths
| principal officers on battleshlp o. the
nlt"N NluleS navy Including the chief
sngbin1esr and his mens W Is the matter
| ''s"'a.eu ny congress?
A. The pay Of officers in the United
States navy. per year. when at sea or