Evening star., 1926-05-01
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

@. Are the standard highway
mer?-E. G.
A. At least II of the States are
now either manufacturing the signs
or have placed orders for their manu-
facture. 1t is anticipated that prac-
tically all of the States will initiate
this work during the coming season.
Q. If all the diamonds in the world
were together, how much would they
Weigh?-G. X
A. 1t is estimated that the total
diamond production has reached about
ia 100000 carats. In value they
total about $5,OO0.O0O 900.
@. Is there a white elephant in
this country?-E. l..
A. There are no white or albino
elephants in America now. Some 40
years ago a circus exhibited a pale
gray one. A white elephant has just
been put on exhibition in the London
Zoo. 1t came from Burma.
Q. How many planes has the
Army Air Service?-R. a. F.
A, Gen. Patrick has said that there
are 1,436 airplanes and airships in
IIc u All E0Sl VIC,
of that number 396 are standard
planes, that is, attack, bombing, pur-
suit and observation planes. There
are 1000 planes which are substitutes
for standard, and 40 obsolete planes.
@ How many weevils attack
grain?-F. c. S.
A. OF the four true weevils that
attack grain in the United States
Only two are of primary importance
at present--the granary weevil and
the rice or black weevil.
Q Please give a definition of
amateur. y. z. p.
A. The word amateur" literally
means one who loves some special
activity. An amateur in athletics is
| one who perfects himself in some de-
partment of athletics, and enters
contests without receiving remunera-
ton. The term is the antonym of
professional.
Q. How does the density of popu-
lation in the United States compare
with that Of European countries?-
a. w. A.
| A. In 1920 there were 35.5 persons
to the square mile in the United
States. This percentage is far lower
| than that Of most European countries.
| In England there are 701.3 persons
per square mile; in Belgium, 648; in
! the Netherlands. 563.3; in France,
| 1914; in Germany, 32S, and in Italy
1921.
@. What is meant by the "Old
Guard" w. It.
| A. In United States politics the
term refers to the conservative OF
stand pat" element in the Republican
party.
| Q. How should a storm cellar be
built?-F. p.
| A. The Weather Bureau says that
many plans for such a cellar have
been proposed, but all that is neces
sary is any sort of a room or hole
under the surface of the earth con
venient to get into. Naturally one
| would prefer to have a door to it
close enough to keep out snakes anC
toads. 1t can have cement walls anC
floor, or these may be of stone, plank
or just the earth, if that will stand
All these details. as also many Others
that some designers have suggested
| are only unimportant details. One
only wants a room of any kind under
ground, in which, at worst. he prob
ably will never need to stay mort
than five minutes in lifetime. While
in the cellar" during the passage OF
a storm the door to the cellar should
be left open.
| Q. Why is barn so.called?-K. O.
| A. The word barn is derived from
the Saxon "berern," from "bere. ;
barley, and "ern." a close place OIL
repository. and originally denoted {
building for the storing of grain.
| @. Was P. T. Barnum. the circu!
man, ever a member of Congress
&c. NJ.
A. Barnum was defeated as a can
didate for Congress in 1866, but wa:
four times a member of the Connect
cut legislature, which may have giver
rise to the impression that he served
in the national body.