Evening star., 1925-04-14

tending the movement of the cattle
to the hills, the hay-cutting and the
vintage, the peasants also don gay ma
tlonal costumes.
Q. VIII white lead paint ret d gal
VaniZed iron rOOf2-M. D. s.
A. The Bureau of Standards SAYS
that white lead paint does not attack
Ealvanized-iron and cause it to dete-
riorate.
Q. Why is Oklahoma called the
Sooner State"?-R. L. W.
A. The nickname. the Sooner State.
WAS given TO oklahoma because o3
events connected with its settlement.
The proclamation Of President Har-
risOn setting the date for the formal
opening of Oklahoma to settlement
under the homestead law Of the
United States was eagerly awaited by
prospective settlers throughout the
West. Throngs of people assembled
along the borders. Certain of these
persons disregarded the conditions set
forth in the rules prescribed for the
opening of the land, and, eluding the
troops patrolling the border, they
slipped through and concealed them
selves at points conveniently near the
best land, so that they would not have
far TO go when the legal hour Of open.
ing arrived. These people were called
'sOoners.'
G. Must one be an American citi-
zen to practice medicine in the Dis
trict2-P. II.
A. The laws governing the prac-
ticc of medicine and surgery in the
District Of Columbia do not require
that an applicant for license be an
American citizen.
O. What did the first rural mail
carriers receive2-J. r. G.
\. The first rural free delivery Of
mail was established October /, 1896,
simultaneously at Charleston, Uyilla
and HalltoWn. ". Va. This was dur
ing the administration Of Grover
Cleveland. The salary Of the carriers
at that time was $500.
@. To whom shall I write in regard
to Curtailing the number Of Govern
ment emDloyes?-V. r. 5.
A. The work of reducing Office en-
ployes in the Government comes IN
der the heads Of the various depart
ments. The report. however, VIII be
submitted TO the President through
the office Of the director Of the Budget
Bureau, Gen. H. NJ. Lord.
Q. Please give a description OF the
sewelIeI.-NV. T. W.
! A The sewellel is a curious little
! beaverlike rodent Of the mountains
from northern California TO British
Columbia, which lives in wet places
/ overgrogn with vegetation, where il
makes extensive burrows and run
ways often kept wet by running
water. They usually live in colonies
and hibernate, preparing for the Win
I -, -r.s.-
quantities Of woody plants and ferns,
which they carry to places near their
| burrows and spread out TO dry thor
oughly before taking them into their
( burrows as stored food. The Indians
ate them and MADE much use of their
soft fur. A second species has been
described from California. The many
| structural differences from the beaver
/ have led TO placing the seWellels in
a family by themselves. They are
| regarded as most nearly representing
| the ancestral type of the squirrels.
Q. How do the wages of the crews
or our merchant vessels compare
with those of other countries?-R.
\ S. NJ
a. The average pay Of the total
crew of an S,S0O-ton ship, operated
by the United States Shipping Board,
is 1886 monthly, as compared to
| S1,782. .71sfor the same vessels Of Great
| Britain; Norway, $1.100.14; Holland
| S1,623.33; Japan, Sl,S65.53; Sweden,
| s1,S2O.59, and France, S1.318.85. The
monthly pay Of an able seaman
ranges from s1S.7S in Japan to $G2.50
in the United States.
@. What cities are doing the most
! building e. w.
"a. New York, Chicago. Detroit, Los
| Angeles and Philadelphia were lead
| ing last Fall, in the order given.
| (Let The Star Information Bureau,
! Frederic j. HdSkiR, director, TlCenty-
! first and G streets, GnSlCer DOur queS-
| ton. The only charge for this SerUtCe
! is cents in stamps for return post
age)