Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-12
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC ]. HASKIN.

There is no other agency in the world
that can answer as many legitimate
questions as our free Information Bureau
in washington, D. G. This highly or
ganized 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 it Is in a
position to pass on to you authoritative
Information of the highest order. Sub
init 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 ]. Hasiin, dl-
rector, Washington, D. c.
@. What are the objections to the
new golf ball we are hearing so much
about?-F, Mel.
A. The principal criticisms of the
new golf ball are that the player cannot
get as much distance with It as he could
with the old standard ball; that it Is
not so good for play when heavy wind
is blowing, and that. being larger and
lighter, it Is not so good for putting.
Some players are said to like the new
ball, primarily because they get better
lies with it and brassie and iron shots
are easier to play.
Q. Who invented the machine now
used by stereotype operators?-B. H.
A. It Is the invention Of Ward Stone
Ireland. The patent was issued April
l, 1913.
@. What is the salute fired on the
Fourth of July?-H. McC.
A. The salute to the Union. one gun
for each State. Is fired on the Fourth
Of July at noon.
@. Is it possible to travel across the
country by motor boat without many
portages?-O. A. 8.
A. The editor Of Rudder says that
several years ago small cupboard boat
made the trip from coast to coast by
way of the Columbia River, thence by
short portage across the mountains to
the headwaters of the Missouri, down
this river to the Mississippi, through
the Chicago Drainage Canal, the Great
Lakes, New York State Barge Canal and
Hudson River to New York. It Is be-
lieved that the portage involved Is about
rs miles, which can be made by the
aid of a motor truck but one of the
chief difficulties Is that the tremendous
amount Of sand in the waters of the
Missouri River has a tendency to wear
out the underwater parts of an out
board motor with great rapidity. In
fact, it was necessary to change these
parts completely almost every day while
in these waters.
@. How many people are cremated in
the United States instead Of interred?-
M. P. B.
A. More than 10000 deceased per-
sons are created each year. There are
81 crematoria in this country.
Q. In how many forms is carbon
found?-S. w.
A. The element carbon IS found in
three distinct forms-in a soft, amor
phous condition, resulting from the burn
ing OF wood, coal or other vegetable
substances, as in charcoal or lampblack:
in the form OF graphite or black lead,
and in a crystallized form, as the dia-
mond, which is the hardest substance
known.
@. What is the origin of the Liberty
Cap Symbols. G.
A. 1t Is traced to the Phrygian cap
OF ancient Greece and Rome which was
worn by galley slaves when they OBJ
tanned their freedom.
Q. Is Key West coral island?-
A. 1t is. It is about 31a miles from
east to west, "a to IL miles from north
to south and about II feet above sea
level