Evening star., 1928-12-14

The answers to questions printed
here each day are specimens picked
from the mass of inquiries handled by
our great Information Bureau main
tanned in Washington. D. c. This
valuable service is for the free use OF
the public. Ask any question OF fact
you may want to know and you will
get an immediate reply Write plainly,
inclose 2 cents in coin or stamps for
return postage, and address The Eve
ming Star Information Bureau, Frederic
j. Haskin, Director, washington, ID. Z.
@. Please describe the flag of the
Olympic games.-S. M.
A. The flag used for the Olympic
games has an arrangement OF flve cir
cles on a white or neutral background.
The three upper circles, blue, black and
red. do not touch, but they are joined
by the two lower circles of yellow and
green, which in turn do not touch
each other. The blue circle represents
Europe; the black. Africa: the red,
America the yellow, Asia, and the
green, Australasia.
@. How tall must boys be to be ad-
mitted to the Naval Academy?-V. A.
A. The height of candidates for ad-
mission to Annapolis should not be
less than feet inches at the age
of 16 years, with an increase OF one
inch for each additional year or frac-
ton of a year over one-haf. A height
of feet 2 inches is cause for re-
lection.
@. When was the rule passed to the
effect that no pitcher who had never
thrown spit ball could pitch one?-
r. P. p.
A. The spit ball rule was passed De-
cember, 1920.
q. Who were the millionaires in New
York City 100 years ago?-E. r.
A. It is recorded: that about 1928
John Jacob Astor was the only inhab-
liant Of New York worth million dol
lars or more.
@. Why is 1t possible to hear a whis--
per or low voice across the dome oil
St. Pauls Cathedral, LOndon?-J. w.
A. whispering galleries are generally
the result of accident. There are two
general types-the focusing and the
conducting. The dome of st. Pauls
Cathedral in London is of the second
type. A whisper close to and along
the smooth concave wall Is continually
DETECTED inward upon itself by the
wall is prevented from spreading ano
is thus conducted with only slightly
diminished intensity to the other side
of the dome The sound, travelling
by great circles, concentrates again al
the opposite end of the diameter oil
which the sound is produced.
@. In awarding ribbon prizes, what
colors should be used for first, second
and third?-H. T. S.
A. Ribbon prizes are as follows
Blue, first prize; red, second prize;
white, third prize.
q. Please describe the Newport News
James River Bridge.-R. MEG.
A. The bridge Is Az miles long, carry
ing a 22-foot concrete roadway. 1t Is
built on reinforced concrete piles. to
the bent, spaced "A feet apart at the
deep-water channel, in which 1t has 10
deep-water piers. On the pile bents are
laid 4 3O-inch II" beams, upon which
the roadway is built. The lift span Is
300 feet in length with a channel clear
ance of $50 feet and is elevated l4I
feet above the water, giving clearance
for a majority of the vessels navigating
the river. The lift span is Op-
Grated by two 40-horsepower electric
motors. The actual work on the James
River structure was begun last March
and the bridge opened for travel on
November II. Its cost Is arouno
SIS ,O00. 900.