Evening star., 1924-08-12
Answers to Questions
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKuN

~ Do Idpitdi traction street cars
cost more now than they did before
the war?-J. A. S.
A. The Capital Traction Company
says that prior to the war in 1914
their street cars cost about $4,000
and at present time they cost be-
tween $4,000 and $4,000.
Q. Is home for the feeble-minded
being built near Washington?-A
McC.
A. The Home for the Feeble minded
and Aged. which is being constructed
In Maryland near Annapolis Junction,
Is expected to be ready for occupancy
about October 1. This institution is
under the Board of Charities of the
District of Columbia, and details con-
corning the enrolment at this home
can be obtained by addressing the
Board of Charities at the District
Building.
Q. How many kinds of trees are
there in the United States?-H. L. f.
A. The Forest Service says that
there are about 1,125 species in this
country.
Q. Where is DR.. Lorenz at pres
ent?-R E. M.
A. The "bloodless surgeon" is now
York in October.
Q. In Canada. how is the prime
minister elected?-E. E.
A. The entire ministry, of which
the premier or prime minister is the
head, is appointed by the governor
general of Canada.
Q. Why is the date, August 20, 1866,
q hn nd 80
H. B.
A. Gen. Lee surrendered to Gen.
Grant at Appomatox Court House on
April 8, 1865, and active hostilities
ceased on May 81, when Gen. Hood
surrendered to Gen. Davidson, at
Natchez, but the war was not official
ly ended until August 20, 1866, when
the Union troops were demobilized.
Q. What is the present value Of the
Trinity Church property?-C. C. E.
A. The income Of Trinity Protestant
Episcopal Church. in New York City,
was $1,24s,ss1 last year, according to
Its year book, and the church's total
assets were $13.32s,053. Most Of the
income is derived from rents.
Q. How did the people of Rome have
water conveyed to their homes?-
D. A E.
A. The poor people carried their
supply from fountains. The rich had
lead pipes stamped with their names
laid at personal expense. 1t is esti-
mated that each person had an allow
ance of 40 gallons a day.
Q. What proportion of the people,
who go from and come to America,
use the port of New York;. H.
A About one-half Of the 100000
people who enter and leave the United
States in a year pass through the port
Of New York.
Q. To whom did the ancient city of
Petra belong?-U. F.
A. This stronghold Of North Arabia
were an Arab race, whose recorded
history begins about 312 B. c. 1t was
the Nabataens who completed the
downfall Of Cleopatra by the destruc-
tion of the Egyptian Red Sea fleet.
@. What is meant by the "check-off'
system, concerning miners?-W. S. c.
A. The check-off system refers to an
agreement between mine operators and
the union by which the dues of union
miners are deducted from their pay and
thorized to receive them. This follows
the system by which the accounts car
ried at the company store, rents. ETC.,
are deducted from the miners pay.
Q. What is the size of the largest
stone in the world? P. c.
A. Stone Mountain, about 16 miles
from Atlanta, Ga, is the largest
stone monolith in the world. This
huge rock contains 7,543, 75O,950 cubic
feet of exposed granite. One of the
greatest undertakings Of the present
is the carving Of the Confederate
Memorial upon it's face.
@. Please give a method for pro-
longing the wear Of a binder canvas?
r. G. M.
A. The application of a solution
containing equal parts by weight of
gelatin and chrome alum may be ap-
piled to canvas to increase its wear
ing qualities.
@. What well known man cut a
hole in the lower part of a door to
admit a cat. then cut smaller one
for the kitten? s. w. S.
A. We cannot vouch for its authen-
ticity, but this tale is told about Sir
Isaac Newton.
Q. Why has the Venus de Milo no
arms? ". w.
A 1t is generally believed by art
authorities that Venus de Milo had
arms These were broken before the
statue was discovered after having
been buried for a great period of
time. The position of the arms has
been the subject of endless discus
sion.
@. Do they have severe storms in
Florida? j. N. c.
A. The Weather Bureau says that
severe storms of the West Indian
hurricane type occur at irregular in
tervals during the late Summer and
early Autumn months over our South
ern districts. Aside from these
severe storms Of other character are
infrequent
@. Why was the prefix West"
given to the boats built by the United
States Shipping Board? ]. M h
A. The prefix West" indicates that
the boat was built on the Western
coast.
@. What is a wayz goose?-C. ]. S.
A. This is one name given to an an
nual outing and dinner Of worknen in
England. It is either given by employ
erS OF S0OScIloeo iof W ouo woihiueh.
Another name applied to this holiday
making Is bean feast.
@. Was William Congreve, the in
ventor Of the Congreve rocket, also the
dramatist?-B. G.
A. William Congreve, the author of
'The Mourning Bride" The Double
Dealer" Love for Love-" THE Way of
the World and other plays. was born
in 1870 and died in 1923. Sir William
Congreve, the inventor, was born in
1873 and died in 1928.
@. What proof have we that the
great glacier passed over the land?