Evening star., 1928-05-18
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HAsKIN.

This is a special department devoted
solely to the handling of queries. This
paper puts at your disposal the services
of an extensive organization in Wash
ington TO serve you in any capacity
that relates to information. This sery-
ice Is free Failure to make use OF 1t
deprives you of benefits to which you
are entitled. Your obligation is only
2 cents in stamps enclosed with your
inquiry for direct reply. Address The
Evening Star Information Bureau,
Frederic j. Haskin, director, Washing
ton, y. 6.
@. How many landing fields are
there near Detroit?--C. p.
A. The Department of Commerce
says that there are 20 airplane land
ing fields IN the vicinity of Detroit, Of
which number II are for land planes,
three for seaplanes. There is one mu-
nicipal field There are two Army fields
and IA commercial fields, some OF which
are owned by small air taxi companies.
@. How many billion-dollar concerns
are there in the United States?-
r. A. M.
A. A recent survey listed IA billion
dollar corporations in the United
States. They were: American Tcle-
phone & Telegraph Co: Atchison,
Topeka g. Santa Fe Railroad; B. &c o.
Railroad. Metropolitan Life Insurance
Co. National City Bank OF New York.
New York Central, New York. Chicago
& st, Louis Railroad: New York Life
Insurance Co, Pennsylvania Railroad,
Prudential Insurance Co. OF America,
Southern Pacific. Standard Oil OF New
Jersey. United States Steel Corporation
and Union Pacific.
@. Who invented punctuation?-
G.. F. C..
A. The system of punctuation as we
now use it was introduced by Vene-
tian printer Aldus Manutius, in the
latter part OF the fifteenth century
Little change has been found necessary.
The modern points came into use
gradually after the invention OF print
ing. the comma. parenthesis. note OF
Interrogation and period being the
earliest introduced and the note OF ex-
clamation last.
@. How many children has Roxy?-
II. S. w.
A. TWO. Arthur. a student at Peeks-
kill Military Academy, and Beta, little
miss in her early teens.
@. When was burglary insurance In
troduced into this country?-S. o. V.
A. Burglary insurance was flrSt
written in this country in 1892. The
business grew slowly during the first FIVE
years. but since that time has grown
rapidly.
@. Can a person drive an automobile
through to South America?-M. P. A.
A. At the present time such trip is
not feasible. Plans for a highway to
link the Americas are being formed. 1t
is possible now to motor as far south as
Monterey, Mexico, over good roads, even
to Mexico City If the traveller is willing
to use fair or unimproyed roads. Com
ing north. a motor car recently pro-
ceeded from Buenos Aires. Argentina,
to Lima, Peru. but with extreme diff
Guilty. AT various stages of the trip the
drivers experienced many hardShipS,
owing to lack of roads in certain sec
tons.
@. What is the correct name Of the
statue on the dome of the Capitol?--
J. NJ. J.
A. The correct name of the figure
which surmounts the rotunda is Free
dom. The sculptor was the American
artist, Crawford.
@. What is pemmican?-L. A. NJ
A. Pemmiean is compressed food.
made from dried beef. fat, sugar and
dried currarts. It is used extensively by
Arctic explorers.
@. Has the Eastman Kodak Co. con-
dueted any research along the line Of
visual instruction in schools?- PC. A.
A. After experimenting for two years
In dozen cities in daily classroom work
with children. especially in geography
and science, the company has organized
a company to promote the use Of mo-
lion pictures in teaching.
@. Please give me some information
concerning the early life of Feodor
Chaliapin.-B. j.
A. He was born at Kazan, Russia. in
1873. At he vas q cobhier's appren-
tice: he became q wood carver. book
binder. pawn brokers' clerk. novice in
a monastery Of the Russian Church and
longShoreman on the Volga at II cents
a day AT II he was in comic opera at
$6 a k-maehiniSt, pronpter. stage
manager, singer, all in one. Not long
afterward he was singing in Moscow at
$4,000 year.
@. In what countries does the United
States enjoy extraterritorial rights?-
E. T.
A. China. siam. Turkey, Morocco.
Muscat. AbySsinia and Persia, as we'll as
territories formerly n part OF the former