Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-20

There is no other agency in the world
that can answer as many legitimate
questions as our Free Information Blu
reau in Washington, D. G. This highly
organized institution has been built up
and is under the personal direction OF
Frederic j. Haskin. BY keeping In con-
slant touch with Federal bureaus and
other educational enterprises 1t is in a
position to pass on to you authoritative
information of the highest order. Sub
NIT your queries to the staff Of experts
whose services are put at your free dis
posal. There is no charge except 2
cents in coin or stamps for return post
age Address The Evening Star Infor-
nation Bureau. Frederic J. Haskin, di-
rector, Washington, D. c.
Q. How many acres Of made land are
there along the lake front in Chicago?
Where was the dirt obtained?-E. H.
A. The Chicago Chamber of Com
merce says that there is a total of 783
acres of made land along the water
front. The South Park Board has filled
il 500 acres and the Lincoln Park
Board 1873 acres. The material used for
this filling in has been obtained from
various places-dredging of the Chicago
River in Strengthening and widening
projects. dredging of Lake Michigan
and general city waste. The top layer
of soil is obtained from farm lands.
@. What is the food value of whisky?
A. A. H.
A. The only food value in whisky is
in the alcohol which it contains If a
small quantity of whisky Is ingested,
the alcohol probably will be burned
and converted into heat and energy
before it does much harm to the organs
OF the body. AS rule the harm done
by whisky to body functions far over
balances any food value which the al
cohol therein contains. In fact the
food value Of whisky is nil. AS whisky
ton OF the alcohol, the number of
calories arising from this oxidation Is
so small as to be negligible.
@. When did France finish paying
her war indemnity?-M. L. B.
A. According to a treaty Of peace
ending the Franco-Prussian War.
indemnity OF 100000 900 francs (Sl.-
O00, 900 000). The last instailment Of
the war indemnity was paid September
), 1873.
Q. How old is the art of engraving?
H. A. H.
A. Engraving dates back to the an
clients. but the first authentic engraving
of which there is any record was that
Of st. Christopher, 1923. Baron de
Reiffenberg claims to have found an
earlier one, dated 1418. and a manu-
script discovered in the middle of the
eighteenth century gives reason for be-
lieving that the art was known as early
as 1906 in England, but there has been
too much controversy concerning those
prior to st. Christopher to accredit the
earlier ones.
@. Who discovered the Philippine
Islands?-A. B.
A. The Philippine Islands were dis
covered in 1921 by Ferdinand Magal-
haes.
@. Are there any famous Russian,
Japanese or Chinese violin makers?-
C. M. B.
A. The c. H. Ditson Co. says: We
have never seen any celebrated Eus-
sian, japanese or Chinese violin makers.
We have no record of ever having heard
of the Chinese making a violin and
the instruments made by the Japs are
OF the very cheap commercial quality.
The violin took root in Japan during
the late war. However since peace was
declared Germany and France have
furnished practically all of the cheap
instruments for America. and the Japs
at present are out of the picture. We
have no records of any well known
Russian makers. However. the violin is
an extremely popular instrument all
through Eastern Europe. and doubtless
thousands of them have been con-