Evening star., 1932-03-05
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

This newspaper puts at your dis
posal a corps of trained researchers
in Washington who will answer ques-
the Government departments the
libraries, museums. galleries and pub
lie buildings and to the numerous as
sociations which maintain headquarters
in the Nations Capital. II they can
be of assistance to you. write your
question plainly and send with two
cents in coin or stamps to The Eve
ming Star Information Bureau. Fred
eric ]. Haskin, Director, Washington,
D. C.
@. What is the principal difference
between the American and European
methods of speed skating?-R. F. D.
A. The Scandinavian champions are
accustomed to racing in lanes and In
two-man heats. best time to decide the
winner. In the American style there
are several skaters in each heat.
@. What is the occupation Of Harry
Flood Byrd, Virginia's choice for the
Democratic nomination for the presi-
dency?-S. s.
A. He is a farmer: is the largest in
dependent orchardist in the world and
is engaged also in general farming.
banking and publishing
@. What was the real name Of the
person who conducted a column under
the name Ruth Ashmore?-P. T.
A. Isabel Allerdice Sloan Mallon.
@ Please explain the police radio or
teletype system.-M. NJ. E.
A. Police departments have for some
time had system OF radio transmittal
of police orders which Is very similar
TO any radio broadcasting system. There
is also a system used by police and
by other interests, called teletype, which
consists of an automatic wireless con-
nection between a typewriting machine
at the place of sending and another
at the place of receiving. BY this sys-
tenn the impulses on the keys Of the
sending machine automatically react
on the machine at the receiving station
so trat complete letter Is written
simultaneously in both places. The
receiving operator may then reply In
the same manner while the connection
is still maintained, thereby assuring a
complete copy in both places of both
letter and answer
O. How many potatoes does it take
to feed the average person in New
York City?-C. w.
A. The approximate average per
capita consumption of potatoes in the
New York area is 18 bushels per
month, which amounts to approximate
ly 1913 pounds.
@. When will the Folger Shake
speare Library be opened?-A. @. S.
A. 1t will not have its collection of
Shakespeariana completely installed
until much later this year. The formal
dedication wiz be on April %, when
a considerable portion of the collection
will have been installed At the pres
ent time the building is open to visitors
only by appointment.
@. How much dirt or silt Is carried
into the Gulf of Mexico by the Mis-
sissippi River?-T. e.
A. The Mississippi River carries
yearly to the Gulf of Mexico 4l8.000,-
900 tons Of silt. On the basis of the
chemical analysis of soils over the
United States generally. the following
estimate has been made of the con-
tents of this silt: Phosphoric acid,
$4,000 tons: nitrogen, 418,000 tons;
potash, 6,479,000 tons In addition the
Mississippi River carries approximately
100000 900 tons of dissolved matter
which cannot be analyzed in this man.
ner.
@. In THE Story of Elaine" by Sir
Thomas MalOry was the sleeve worn