Evening star., 1928-03-29
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HISKIN.

Have we had the pleasure OF serving
you through our Washington informa :
ton bureau7 Can't we be OF some help
TO you In your daily problems? Our
business is 10 furnish you with authori-
tative information, and we invite you
to ask us any question OF fact in which
you are interested Send your inquiry
to The Evening Star Information Bu-
reau Frederic j. Haskin director, Wash
ington. d. G. Inclose cents In stamps
for return postage.
O. Is the poet laureate OF California
livIng?-T. b.
A. Ina coolbrlth died February 20.
1929.
o. Which Ia the greatest railroad
In the World?F. W.
A. The German Railways Co.
CDeutsche Reichsbahn) organized by
the Dawes commission. Is the largest
railroad system In tn. world It. COM
prises 10000 miles Of track and en-
poys more than 100000 men.
@ How does the pulling strength Of
an elephant compare with that Of a
horse?-H E. d.
A. The pulling strength OF an ele-
phant is equal to that approximately OF
IL horses or 3 oxen.
O. When was modern shorthand in
vcnted?-C. B.
A. Modern shorthand dates back tc
1888. when Or. Timothy Bright pro-
duced a system in London The system
Of John Willis. however. published II
1902. was the foundation Of all subse-
quent ones
O. Docs government cost more In the
/ United States than in other countries ?
M f. L.
A. According to comparison pub
lished In 1922, the cost of government
per capita in the United States was
only S3S. as compared with sos In Eng
land. The cost In France was s42. in
Japan $i3, and in Italy Sill
O Is 1t true that spider webs are
used commercially?--S. A. r.
A Strands OF the web OF spiders are
used for cross lines in microscopes.
range finders and other exacting instru-
ments The web is wound on a card
like thread
Q. Where is The longest concrete
highway bridge in the world?-E. c.
A. The neW Pontchartrain Bridge in
Louisiana. Is the longest continuous
highway bridge constructed OF rein
forced concrete II extends 5 miles
across the water and has 10 miles of
built approaches. The total length is
approximately l54l miles
O. When was the word cartoon
first used In reference to comic draw
The y,rnnn,t nr,otso.ssn. - .t
word originated in the English periodi-
cal Punch. the occasion being the flrst
exhibition Of cartoons for the houses
Of Parliament, in July. l843. when
Punch appeared with a rival series Of
sarcastic designs
@. Please explain the status OF the
Marine Corps-E s.
A. The United States Marine Corps
Is an independent branch of the mill
tary service and though under the
direction Of the Navy Department. may
be detailed by order Of the President for
service with the Army The duties as
signed 10 the Marine Corps are to gar
rison the navy yards and naval stations
and the defenses erected for their pro-
lection; to furnish to all battleships
and cruisers and other vessels when
necessary a detachment for guard duty
and also 70 assist in the handling Of the
ships guns. A mobile force is also
always held in readiness at the Marine
Barracks as the first line for foreign
service when the occasion may arise.
The corps is organized as prescribed
for infantry and artillery serving dis
mountedl In the Army regulations. on
GERS and men wear the same designat-
ing rank as the Army with some Slight
exceptions and are armed with the
service pistol and rife.
@. Is horse meat so labeled?-C. A. c.
A The labelling Of horse meat comes