Evening star., 1933-04-24
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

Few Americans realize how much
their Government does for them. Read
ers of The Evening Star can draw on
all Government activities through our
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greatest libraries, laboratories, and ex-
perimental stations are at their COM
mand. Ask any question Of fact and
1t will be answered, free, by mail d.
rect to you Inclose three cents in coin
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post cards. Address The Evening Star
Information Bureau, Frederic J. Has
kin, Director, Washington, D. G.
Q. How do the expenditures of the
United States Government on its vet
Grams compare with other countries?-
F. H.
A. Lawrence Sullivan, writing in the
Atlantic Monthly, says: "Our expendi-
ture for veterans last year was at the
rate of $2,66S.66 for every American
soldier killed and wounded in action
the comparable figure for Germany,
France, Great Britain, Italy and
Canada combined was only $3.50"
O. How many trees are available for
planting in the reforestation project?-
E. s.
A. The American Forestry Association
estimates that there are about $50 ,000,-
900 seedlings available for planting this
year.
@. When was the first bridge built
across the Mississippi River at st.
Louis?-M. L.
A. In 1874. Previous to that time
ferries were used.
Q. How long has a mail early" cam
paign been conducted Tor Christmas
mall?-R. P.
A. The first reference in the Post
Office Department files is In November,
1918. This was at the time the parcel
post was established. Sending packs ges
overseas during the World War empha-
sized the idea, and succeeding years
have found mailed packages more evenly
distributed over the weeks before
Christmas.
@. How does Madras hemp compare
with jute?-M. P.
A. Madras hemp is lighter and
stronger than jute and is used for rope
and bagging.
@. How much money has the United
States borrowed?-N. T.
A. One estimate shows that since
1789 the United States has borrowed
$470, 900, ,000,000 on Treasury evidences
Of Indebtedness bearing interest The
cost of this money has amounted to
SIS. .800, 900 900 in interest. In addition,
there has been substantial non inter-
est-bearing Indebtedness at different
periods.
@. In Canada are there more people
In cities or on the farms?-B. T. F.
A. In 1881 there were 5,572,058 In
urban centers and 4,804,728 in rural
Canada. There Is a back-to-the-land
movement in Canada which has placed
1878 families on farms in little over
two years and 1928 single men have
been placed In farm employment. Ca
madam provincial governments are CO.
city dwellers in the country.
@. Where is the Oldest Christian
monastery in the world?-A. T.
A. It is the st. Katherine Monastery
on the Sinai Peninsula, about 30 miles
from the Gulf of Suez. It was eStab-
Ished in the fifth century. The main
monastery Is near the base OF Mount
Sinai, but there is a shrine on the sum-
init Of the nearby Mount st. Katherine.
Q. What mine in the United States
has the record for the largest output
Of coal in one day?-F. G.
A. The Bureau Of Mines says that the
New Orient mine, West Frankfort, Ill,
holsted the maximum Of 1858 tons OF
coal in one day.
@. In what order do the feet of q