Evening star., 1928-03-02

This newspaper puts at your disposal
a corps OF trained researchers In Wash
ington who will answer questions for
you. They have access to the Govern
ment departments, the libraries, mu-
scumS. galleries and public buildings
and TO the numerous associations
which maintain headquarters In the
Nations Capital. II they can be of
assistance to you, write your question
plainly and send with a 2-cent stamp
to The Evening Star Information
Bureau, Frederic j. IIaskin, director,
Washington, ID. C..
@. Why is Lent said TO be 40 days
long when the time is actually 47
days?-A. j, Il.
A. In this period Of fasting and
prayer Sundays are not counted. as
they arc feast days.
@. When was the first mile minute
train run?--T. K.
A. The first mile-a-minute run made
in the United States was in l248 on the
Boston e. Maine Railroad. The engi-
neer's name was Pemberton. Mr.
Minot. the superintendent, and the
atives Of the leading Boston papers
were invited to accompany them and
they, with few other guests. were in
possession Of the only car that made
the run.
q. Who designed the Indian tree pat
tern that appears on china disheS?-
NJ. C.
A. 1t was originally the design OF a
man named John Rose, a we'll known
English potter Later the name was
changed from the Rose pattern 10 the
Indian tree pattern.
Q. II train is approaching draw
bridge on the Passaic River and boat
wants to go through the draw. which
one has the right OF Way?-D. J. L.
A. The opening Of draWbridgeS over
the Passaic is governed by regulations
OF the War Department. This regula-
ton reads as follows: The draw Of
any bridge used solely for United States
mail, passenger and express trains need
not be opened for vessel reaching said
draw less than five minutes before the
schedule arrival of any such train until
such train passes. unless the bridge
tender has notice that the train is de-
layed more than five minutes
O. How did camel coal get its
name?-R. j. j.
A. Camel coal burns with a bright.
candle-likc fame. and 1t Is probable
that the name Is corruption Of candle
| coal. This coal is found in Kentucky,
Ohio and Indiana. and some believe
that it is a product of an accumulation
Of animal as we'll as plant remains
The same kind Of coal is found in Scot
land where it is called parrot coal.
@. What is an investment trust?-
r. S. J.
A. The investment trust is an agency
by which the combined funds o. nu-
merouS participants are invested in a
diversity of securities with the object
Of attaining safety Of principal through
distribution OF risk. In its generally
accepted sense the investment trust
avoids all control. or directive response
bilities. resulting from investments.
Moreover, the portfolio OF holdings is
generally so managed that favorable
current yield IS sought on invested cap
| ital at the same time that continuing
| supervision Of the securities aims at
| avoidance Of losses and realization OF
investment profits.
@ What building material was used
! for the Parthenon?-H. d.
| taken from the great quarrieS just out
| side OF Athens. The same quarrieS have
| furnished the building material for the
| greater part Of modern Athens.
Q. What percentage Of the weight OF
atmosphere Is accounted for by oxy-
! gen Pr. d. B.
A Various figures have been given
for the amount OF oxygen by weight IL
the atmosphere. The figure generally
given IN text books on physics is % per
cent. the average results of several de-
examinations in Hernpel's Gas Analysis.
| 23l5; Sir William Ramsay. in the bull
| letin OF the United States Geological
| Survey No. $50. gives 23024: A. Leduc
| gives the figure as 232.
| Q. When was the first railroad tun-
mel made?~-V. G. B.
/ A. The first railroad tunnel is the