Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-11-16
INQUIRIES
 ANSWERS
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1 the ceiling as possible while stand. ing erect, lying flat on the floor and raising the legs without bending the knees, and other stretching devices of the same sort will increase the height if persisted in two or three times day.
 w. O. E.-I would like to know the least number of words that can be made from the letters of the alphabet. A. Walsh's Handy Book of Liter ary Curiosities quotes this, contain ing all letters except "j," which is omitted because that letter is fre- quently used, interchangeably. with 'f": T quartz pyx who fling muck beds" Here's another one, from Notes and Queries: John P. Brady gave me a black walnut box of quite small size."
 H. Ms Pennsylvania the great est oil producing state?
 A. If you mean petroleum, Cali fornia is the leading producer. Her production last year was nearly one fourth of the total output of the country. Kansas, Indian Territory and Oklahoma combined hold second place, Ohio third, followed by Texas, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Louisi- ana, Indiana, Illinois, New York, Kentucky, Tennessee, Colorado. Wy oming, Michigan and Missouri, in the order named.
 I. w. RI want to know how to get rid of large red ants in my fields.
 A. It is a most difficult thing to accomplish. An effectual method, where it is possible, is to put layer of powdered borax on each hill as they appear. The process will have to be repeated several weeks before there is any noticeable result, and in a considerable field it would not be practicable. I regret that I can not read the essential words in your other query.
 Mrs w. H.-Please tell me some- thing of Robert Louis Stevenson I often see his name in print, and gather from something I saw that he is dead. If SO, what caused his death, and when?
 A. He was born in Edinburgh, November 13, 1850, and was edu- cated at the university there. His ancestors were distinguished engi- neers, and he was called to the Scot tish bar, but never practiced. His health was always frail and he tray eled in many countries in search of health, which he never found. He was the author of many books, and was most delightful writer. For many years he had lived in the South Sea Islands and died in Samoa, De- cember 8, 1894.
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 J. w. P.-What is the cost of the army and navy yearly? e What per cent of the postal service do the sale of stamps and money orders pay? (3) What constitutes a post office of the first class, second and third classes? (4) How many rural carriers are there in the United States? (5) What is my horoscope, born November 19?
 A. Last year $93,659,462 and 0,956,177, respectively. CD Last year the revenue of the post office department was $167,932,7S2, and the expenditure was S17S,449,- ITS. The figures vary greatly from year to year. (3) postofice doing a gross business of more than $40,- 900 a year is of the first class, and the postmaster has a salary of $3,- 900 year. Second class offices do a smaller business, and the postmas- ter's salary ranges from S2,00O to $2,900. Third class offices pay sal aries ranging from $1,000 to $1,- 900. (4) The number exceeds 3O,- poo and is rapidly increasing. (5) High temper, dignified appearance, strong will, fond of study.