The National tribune., 1907-10-24
ANSWERS TO
CORRESPONDENTS.

FINISHED, and when were passenger
trains first run from New York to Al
bany?
| The company was chartered May IL,
1S46. and the road was opened from
New York to East Albany, Oct 3, 1851.
II. NJ. G., Knoxville, Tenn, asks:
What is the largest amount of legacy
tax ever collected in the United States?
| The largest one of which we can find
any record is that on the estate of
George Smith, who was a resident of
England, which paid in New York the
enormous sum of s1,934.T5307. Other
| large amounts have been: Coils P.
Huntington, 1865, 900; Jay Gould. $780,
900. and Cornelius Vanderbilt. S450,052.
A. B.. Leesburg, Va. asks: Where
can l obtain information concerning
the Rhodes scholarships at Oxford?
The candidate must show that he
has satisfactorily completed the work
of at least two years in some college of
liberal arts and sciences. He must be
under "a years of age. unmarried and
a citizen or son of citizen of the Unit
| ed States. Each student receives s1,500
a year, payable in quarterly INSTALL
ments. For further information ad-
dress F. j. Wylie, the Oxford agent of
the Rhodes trustees. Oxford. England.
Eva c. s., Raleigh. N. c.. asks: Will
you tell me of a good college for wo-
men in the South?
| The Randolph Women's College in
Lynchburg, Va, and the Wesleyan F'e-
male College in Macon, Ga, are we'll
| known.
B. v. l., Grand Rapids. Mich, asks:
What was the largest public benefac-
tion of 1906?
Stephen Salisbury, of Worcester,
Mass. left s20,0OO.000 for the benefit
Of Harvard and other American insti-
tutions of learning. This was probably
the largest single gift. 1t is estimated,
however, that both John D. Rockefel-
Ter and Andrew Carnegie each disposed
of upward of $4,000. 600 to religiouG
and educational institutions during
1905. 1t is believed that more than
800, 100000 were disposed of in pub
lie benefactions during that year
Fl. S. H, Orangeburg, s. c., asks:
! What is the official publication of the
Presbyterian Church in this country?
! The Assembly Herald, of 1928 Chest
nut ST.. Philadelphia.
| B. F. p, Harrisburg. Pa, asks: Who
is the present Governor of New Jersey,
and what is his salary
Edward c. Stokes. whose term of
Office expires on Jan. II, 1908. His
salary is $4,000 a year.
B. B. B.. Birmingham, Ala, asks:
Who was the first Secretary of Com
mere and Labor?
George Bruce Cortelyou, who was
succeeded by Victor H. Metcalf. The
present incumbent is Oscar S. Straus
Z. D. T., st. Louis, Mo-, asks: What
is the name of the Bureau of Fisheries
vessel?
The twin-screw iron steamer Alba
tross. which has just left San Francisco
for the Philippines on a scientific ex-
pedition. -y.,-,..,.
H. L. P, Hyattsville, Md, asks: What
city in the United States has the larg-
est Fire Department?
Probably New York. which has a to-
tai uniformed force. of 3,753
B. c.. K, Valley Forge, Pa, asks:
What was the Princeton explosion?
This terrible catastrophe occurred on
Feb. %, 1S4S, when the bursting of a
cannon on board the Princeton result
ed in the death of Secretary of State
Upshur and Secretary of the Navy Gill
mer. who, with President Tyler and
other members of his Cabinet, were on
Presidential excursion down the Po-
tomac.
W. r. D.. Chevy Chase, Md, asks:
When was the first Worlds Fair in the
United States?
1t was held in 1853 in the Crystal
Palace, on what is now Bryant Square.
Sixth Ave. and 42d St. New York City
1t was formally opened on July ii by
President Pierce and his Cabinet.
l.. NJ. Jonesboro, Tenn, asks: What
kind of glasses do they use to play mu-
sic with by rubbing the fingers on the
top, and what do they dip their fingers
in while playing?
The tumblers are generally made of
very thin glass. They are filled with
ordinary water. and the fingers are
moistened with the tongue, as to dip
them in the water would make them
too wet
J. G. McH.. Benton, Pa. asks: Why
do people wear pink carnations on the
birthday OF President Mckinley?
Because the pink carnation was Pres
ident McKinley's favorite flower, and
one which he himself habitually wore
The practice probably came from the
custom in England Of wearing a prim-
rose on the birthday of Lord Beacons-
field. Other similar practices are: On
st. Patrick's Day the shamrock is Worn
and on the anniversary of Parnell's
death his followers wear sprig of ivy
The Jacobites wear white roses on June
10. In France the Orleanists wear
white daisies and the Bonapartists vio-
lets.
w. P. H, Wheeling. w. Va. asks:
What is the record of the fastest run
on American railroads?
The Plant System, in March, 1901,
made the run from Fleming to Jack
SonVllle, distance of five miles, in two
minutes and half, which is at the
rate of 120 miles an hour. The best
long-distance run was made by the
New York Central from Chicago to
New York. 960.5 miles. in Is hours and
six minutes, which is at the rate of
6O.2S miles an hour, excluding stops.
P. B. G., Springfield, Mass, asks:
When was the Chesapeake & Ohio
Canal finished?
The records show that it was COM
pleted from Georgetown, D. c., to Cum
berland. Md, distance of 191 miles, in
1910. Its cost was about SIC, 1000. 900.
]. M. R., Lynchburg. Va, asks: Is the
number of Indians increasing or de-
creasing?
According to the reports of the Bu-
reau of Indian Affairs they seem to be
slowly increasing. The Indian popula-
ton in 1905 was given as 2St,OI9. as
contrasted with 274.706 in 1904. The
greatest number. of Indians is in Indian
Territory. where 93,333 are located.
w. E. H., Rocky Mount. Va. asks:
How many votes did Parker receive in
Virginia in 1904?
He received SO,64S, as against Roose-
velt's 1880.
j. II. D., Camden. N. J., asks: What
does the Carnegie Institution of Wash
lington do?