Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-04-29

The answers TO questions printed mere
each day are specimens picked from the
mass of inquiries handled by our great
Information Bureau maintained in
Washington. D. G. This valuable serv-
ice 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 cents in
coin or stamps for return postage and
address The Evening Star Information
Bureau. Frederic j. Haskin, director,
Washington, D. G.
@. Do many States have juvenile
courtS?-J. T.
A. There are only two States which
are without some law providing for a
special court for children. Many Of
these laws are seriously inadequate.
@. What is the monetary basis for
compensation of radio artists?-L d. M
A. There is no basic pay. Compensa-
ton depends upon the talent, expert
ence and demand for the artist.
@. Does a food shortage exist in
Russia w. H. G.
A. The Soviet Information Bureau
says that while there have been some
crop failures this past year, there has
not been a serious shortage Of food, due
to the size of the country and the
abundance of other crops. This diff
Guilty will be even less the coming Sum-
mer, due to the new crop about to be
harvested and which from reports Will
be larger than usual.
@. Please give information about the
ruby-throated humming bird. L.
A. The ruby-throated humming bird
is found In Canada and in the United
States east of the Mississippi River. II
winters in Southern Mexico and other
Central American countries. 1t is the
smallest bird found in Eastern North
America. However, 1t is not the small
est humming bird. as there are some
Central and South American species
that are only about two-thirds the size
of the ruby-throated bird.
@. Please explain the phenomenon OF
the Reversible Falls at st. John, New
Brunswick.-M. A.
A. The st. John River, draining an
area of $4,000 square miles, discharges
its food into the st. John Harbor
through rocky gorge, famous In Indian
lore. The famous Reversing Falls
are so called because at high tide the
water of the harbor is above the level
Of the river and has perceptible drop
upstream. The occurrence Is unique
and Is considered one of the natural
wonders of the world.
@. Is Pvt. John Allen of Mississippi
still living?-D. D. F.
A. vt. John Allen was Confed-
crate soldier. After the Civil War he
was q member of Congress from Mis-
| SiSsippi. He served from March 4. 1885
to March g. 1901. He died at Tupelo
Miss, on october 80, 1917.
Q. What is the Pittsburgh plus plan?
| Is 1t still in force?-E. T.
A. The Great Northern Semaphore
consisted of selling steel at a base price
at Pittsburgh plus the all-rail rate OF
freight from Pittsburgh to destination
| This practice applied to steel no matter
where it was manufactured, so that one
buying steel at a Chicago or Duluth
mill paid the Pittsburgh price plus the
rate of the freight from Pittsburgh tc
his factory, although the steel might
have been actually rolled at Chicago
or Duluth. The effect of this practice
was to admit Pittsburgh and other
| Eastern manufacturers to Western mar
! kets as competitors with Western man.
ufacturers upon an exact parity of ma
terial cost, or at an advantage over the
Western manufacturers. 1t limited the
market of the Western manufacturer
to territory west of his plant and de-
prived him of the opportunity of SELF
ing through his normal market, namely
the territory which he could reach at q
freight advantage over his nearest COM
petitor. The final order of the Federal
Trade Commission abolishing the prac-
tice was issued July 81, 1924.
@. Is there such a thing as black
snow?-R. L.
A. Though sometimes discredited, II
is an actual fact that black snow some
times occurs. The color Is produced by
the action Of innumerable fungi, known
as the "MicrococcuS niyaliS." It has also