The National tribune., 1907-12-19
ANSWERS TO
CORRESPONDENTS.

CORRESPONDENTS.
E. r. R., Madison, Wis, asks: Can
you tell US when the last golden spike
was driven in the Union Pacific Rail-
road, connecting. Omaha with the Pa
cific Coast?
There We're four spikes, two of gold
and two of silver, from Montana, Idaho,
Nevada and California respectively
which We're driven on May 10, 1869, at
u o'clock noon, local time, at Promon-
tory Point, Utah, where the tracks of
the Union and Central Pacific Railroads
met. The entire episode was pleasantly
described by Sidney Dillon, under the
title, Driving the Last Spike of the
Union Pacific" in Scribner's Magazine
for August, 1892.
A H. B., Dayton, O., writes: Can you
tell what the mixture is that is used
for sweeping floors?
There has recently been published,
as the formula for sanitary sweeping
compound, the following mixture: Sand,
so parts; sawdust, 80; oil, 5; hardwood
ashes, s; and sal ammoniac, parts.
NJ F. s., Oak Ridge, Pa, writes: Was
the ship Oregon in the bombardment of
Santiago, and what were the names of
the men who were with Lieut.. Hobson
The Oregon was present at the de-
structiOn of Cervera's fleet, which oc-
CURED July 8, 1898, outside of Santiago,
having completed her famous trip from
the Pacific Coast around the Horn. The
men on board the Merrimac with Lieut..
Hobson were Daniel Montague, George
Charette, ]. c. Murphy, John p. Phil
lips, Oscar Deignan and John Kelly,
who were. selected for the crew by Mr..
| Hohcnn EInl1Snn'c account of thp
event was published in the Century
Magazine, and was afterwards printed
| in book form.
NJ NJ, Fairhaven, Wash, asks: What
| is the pay of Chaplain in the Regular
Army after he is retired at the age of
| 64, and what rank did he hold while
serving in the Army?
A retired Chaplain receives IS per
cent of the pay (salary and increase)
| of his rank, which is $1,000 if lIe have
the rank of Major and $4,000 if that IF
Captain, with 10 per cent in addition
for each five years of service up-to 90.
/ Formerly a Chaplain went in with the
; rank of Captain, but since 1901 he be-
gins as First Lieutenant.
]. NJ, Wichita, Kan, writes: Are
there any colored men in the Navy;
and if so, what are their positions, and
where and on what vessels?
There is no color line drawn in en-
listing in the Navy. and there have al
ways been. and still are, many colored
men among the seamen on our war
vessels.
H. NJ, Doner, Okla, writes: Please
give me information concerning the
) reclamation work that l see advertised
in The National Tribune. Tell me whom
TO write to and how to get there. Is
there q chance for a man TO get land
in the Salt River Valley; and. If it is
Government work, would the Govern
ment give a man transportation to go
there. and what wages do they pay?
For full information in regard to the
Reclamation Service, you had better
write to the Hon. f. II. Newell, Chief
of the Reclamation Service, Munsey
Building, Washington, d. c. The SER
vice is always glad to secure good en-
ployes, but there is no way in which
transportation can be paid for them
before they are in the service.
E. r. X, New Orleans, asks: Am 1
entitled TO a Santiago" medal or not !?
l served on L. S. S. yale as warrant
machinist anu as acting chief engineer
on L. S. S. Rita, prize TO Yale
The records of the Navy Department
show that you served as warrant ma
chinist on L. S. S. Yale from June Is
to August 1898, and as the Rita was
. captured on May s, 1898, prior to your
entrance into the service, you do not
seem 70 be entitled to medal.
/ V n g.. Bethel, Wash, asks: Can
: you tn ne where Alonzo Weeks nigh:
be? ne az one time was Commissioner
, of Pensions at Washington. If dead,
where is he buried? How long was he
in office?
The last report of the Commissioner
F.,;I
: of Mr.. Weeks in the list of Commits
sioners of Pensions since 1888. He may
: have been a Deputy Commissioner. We
: would therefore suggest your writing to
/ the Hon. Vespasian Warner, who is now
; the Commissioner. and he can have the
matter looked up for you.
J. r., Antwerp, o., asks: What does
the President of the United States re-
ceive as salary and perquisites of the
, office? Does he receive anything eX-
: cept his salary and his residence?
He receives a salary OF $4,000 a
year and the right to live in the White
House He pays his own bills for Iiv-
: ing expenses but not the salaries Of his
2 official staff and his servants. Since
f Congress prohibited free railroad trans
4 portation an annual allowance has been
p made by Congress for the travelling eX-
e penses of the President.
w. w. r., Wheeling, w. Va, writes:
l. How many pensioners were on the
I, pension roll on June 80, 1907? 2. How
. many receiving S72 per month? 3. How
: many receiving sac? 4. What is the
average pension paid to all receiving
: $40 or less? 8. What amount of money
did it require to pay pensioners for the
quarter ending June 80, 1907? 6. How
much money was appropriated last Con-
gress to pay pensioners? Z. How many
Soldiers Homes are supported by the
o Government?
r l. According to the annual report OF
= the Commissioner of Pensions for the
e year ending June 80, 1907, there were
= 967, ,371, being a net loss of 1900 dur
ing the year. 2. There We're 945. g.
:, There were 1855 who received a pen
c sion of $50. 4. The average annual
: value of each pension is s145.60, Is