Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-09-13
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKiN.

Many readers send in questions signed
only with initials. asking that the an
Swers appear in the newspaper. The
space Is limited and would not accom-
modate fraction of such requests. The
answers published are ones that may
interest many readers. rather than the
one who asks the question only. All
questions should be accompanied with
tie writer's name and address and 2
cents in coin or stamps for reply. Send
your question to The Evening Star In
formation Bureau. Frederic j. HaSkin,
director, Washington. D. C.
O. Please explain the lack of rain
In Los Angeles during the Summer
and its occurrence during the winter
l.. c.
A. The Weather Bureau SAYS that
during the Summer the so-called belt
of high atmospheric pressure. the desert
belt as some have called it. extends
over Los Angeles This Is region of
relatively dry and more or less de-
scending air that with few breaks.
extends around the world parallel to
the equator. Rains are infrequent any
where along this belt because the air
is comparatively dry. Furthermore. in
.
many other places. the heated ground
during the Summer makes the air still
dryer and rain all the more unlikely
During the Winter time the belt of
high pressure is farther south and
CyClonic storms widespread rain bear
ing storms) come in from the ocean
anywhere along the Pacific Coast from
Alaska down to some distance south
of Los Angeles. This precipitation Is
further increased by the then rela
lively low temperature of the land espe-
cially in the mountainous portion.
@. How should concrete surface
be prepared for painting?-N. C.
A. The staining or painting of con-
crete should be preceded by the appli.
cation Of an aqueous solution of zint
Sulphate flour pounds of zinc Sulphatt
to one gallon of water in order tt
neutralize any lime that may have been
deposited on the surface as a result
of the chemical action that takes place
during the hardening of the concrete
At least forty-eight hours should elapse
before the addition of other materia
| to the surface.
O. How many pages Of Braille doe!
the Red Cross make in month";
S. S.
A. The record varies. Last April Il
reached its record production. produc.
ing 24272 pages of Braille for the uss
of blind readers
O. Do most words in the English
language begin with the letter go
r. e. G.
A. The letter &c" is used most fire.
uuently. but according to the New Ok
ford Dictionary most words begin with
IS" In this dictionary they number
57.428
@. How many firms operate chair
groceries?-V. G. S.
A. There are approximately 40,00C
chain grocery stores in the United
States at the present time. operated BY
328 firms and cooperative associations
Q. Could a family living in one
apartment tamper with the electric
meters so that its electricity would b;
charged to another meter?-E. II. A.
A. The Bureau of Standards say;
that the only way in which the inter.
ference referred to could be accom-.
plished is by meddling with the con-
nections to the meters. Electric meter:
can be and are at times caused to regis
ter incorrectly for purposes of fraud. tt
prevent some of the easier ways 81
stealing electrical energy by such mean!
many OF the larger companies require
the use of meter cabinets. arranged tt
be sealed by the company, which make
n J;fHn,,lt or iv,,ppSeibIo for the citc,