The National tribune., 1909-02-04
ANSWERS TO
CORRESPONDENTS.

T. B. K, Tacoma, Wash: The Consti-
tuition of the United States is wisely
prepared document. 1t is worth read
do any right thing that any other coun-
try can do. The Constitutional Conyen-
ton had most difficult task in cement
ing together the varied interests of Sec
tions then widely separated. At that
time it took weeks for Georgia to COM
municate with Massachusetts,.
B. c. D., Lexington, Mo-: Women pos
sess suffrage upon equal terms with
men in Wyoming. Colorado, Utah and
Idaho. School suffrage is enjoyed by
women in eighteen States. In Great
Britain women can vote for all candi-
dates except members of the House of
Commons. Rev. Anna H. Shaw, Swarth-
more, Pa, is President of the National
American Woman's Suffrage Association.
NJ. A. c., Council Bluffs, Iowa: Our
foreign expansion began in 1897 when
we acquired the Hawaiian Islands, 6,740
square miles. Since then we have taken
Porto Rico, $500 square miles; the
Pone Islands (West Indies), SS2 square
miles; Guam, ITS square miles; the
Philippines, $4,000 square miles; and
the Samoan Islands, 73 square miles.
We also own strip 10 miles wide and
As long across the Panama republic.
Also q lot of uninhabited islands in the
Pacific. Yes, the cost of maintaining oc-
cupation seems to be growing, to Judge
by the Army and Navy budgets.
f. ]. F., Penn Yam, N. z: The Pan
/ anna Canal will be about 46 miles long
with width of from 200 to 1000 feet
and depth varying from 80 to As feet.
The highest point to be reached by
locks will be 85 feet above the sea. The
locks are being made to resist ordinary
earthquakes, but big shake might do
enormous damage. 1t is too early to
say when 1t will be ready for use or its
cost. Without adequate merchant ma
rine of our own it looks as if foreign
shipping might take the business.
]. C. M, st. Cloud, Mimi: The
Adamses, Jefferson, Madison and CleVe-
land were never soldiers, and so Presi-
dent-elect Taft has good company. (2)
John Tyler had the largest family Of
children among the Presidents, sons
and daughters. He had two wives. W.
H. Harrison had six sons and four
daughters. (3} James Buchanan was
the only unmarried President. (D Five
Presidents married widows, and one,
Jackson, divorced woman.
F. M. M, Fort Wayne, Ind: No
other country has a greater range of
climate and products than the United
States. From the Alpine growths of the
Montana Rockies, at the sources of the
Missouri River down to the Gulf of
Mexico can be found nearly every sta
ple-or can be grown-needed by civili-
zation. Strawberries are picked in De-
cember and January in Central Florida,
while the trees hang yellow with oranges
and grape fruit. Green stuff for the
table can be grown every month in the
year in the Gulf States.
F. A. b., Canton, Ohio: Cotton leads
all other American products in the list
of exports. During the year 1907 over
100000 bales of 500 pounds each went
abroad. Each bale in round figures was
worth about $50. The South has mo-
nopoly in growing cotton. 1t supplies
two-thirds of the cotton used in the
world. Ever since the civil war English
manufacturers have been trying to es-
tablish cotton growing in other parts Of
the world, but without success.
J. A. b., Abba, Iowa: Panama Sc
ceded from the United States of Colom-
bia Nov. 8, 1903. On Nov. 6, three days
later, President Roosevelt recognized its
independence, and on Nov. 13 he re-
ceived the first official representative of
the new republic. This might seem
hasty action in view of the opposition
once manifested against secession in this
country.
S. s., Melrose. Iowa: The Ex-Prison-
ers Pension Bill is still alive, and it's
friends hope for the best. Those interest,"
ed should let their Representatives and
Senators know that the fate of the bill
is being watched from all parts of the
country.
G. w. A., Catawissa, Pa: G)Wash-
ington was inaugurated President in
New York City in 1889, when he was
81 years old. (2) The dome of the U. S.
Capitol is 2S7 feet above the level of the
street on the east side. (3) The weight
of iron in the dome Is S,909,200 pounds.
(1 The Capitol building covers 153,112
square feet, and the cost of construction
SO far over 20 million dollars (5) The
Capitol grounds proper exceed 25 acres,
and include large reservations made
when the Government took charge. The
Government owns the streets and parks
of Washington. (6) The State Depart
ment occupies building jointly with
the War and Navy Departments, but