Evening star., 1934-01-18
ANSWERS TO QUESTIONS
BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

Thousands Of Government experts
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Of all citizens Of the United States.
They viii work directly for you II you
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Information Bureau, Frederic J. Haskin.
Director, Washington, d. G.
Q. How much does the base ball used
in the major leagues weigh?-N. F.
A. For the first time In 80 years the
National and American Leagues will use
the same type of ball In 1894. It Is
practically the same as the live ball
used in the American League In the
1888 season. This ball weighs to 5h
ounces.
Q. Who created the character. The
Old Soak?-P. T.
A. Don Marquis in the New York
Evening Sun. Later the character be-
came the central figure In a humorous
volume entitled "The Old Soak" and in
a comedy of the same title.
Q. How many stores did Sir Thomas
Upton own?-P. G.
A. At the height of its career, Sir
Thomas Lipton's firm operated some
420 shops in the United Kingdom. With
the addition of those in other parts Of
the world the total was probably 600.
@. Where is the original manuscript
OF The Star spangled Banner"?-
A. It has recently been purchased
by the Walters Art Gallery, Baltimore,
Md. The trustees of the gallery pur-
chased 1t from DR.. A. S. w. Rosenbach,
who bought it at auction for $4,000.
O. Why does the Chicago 81 North
western Railroad use left-hand passing
on its double tracks?-W. F.
A. A great many years ago the rail-
roads OF America were dominated finan-
cially by European interests, mostly
Dutch and English. A number of Eng
lishmen were sent here to operate the
railroads and practically all of the first
double-tracking was done and estab-
lished with left-hand operation, and
this continued until good many miles
had been constructed and so operated
on the Erie, Fort Wayne, Lake Shore
and other railroads, these roads being
changed later to right-hand running,
the last one being the Lake Shore, now
the New York Central Railroad, which
was changed about fifteen years ago
| at b very heavy expense. The New
] York Central still operates two of its
| four-track system between Buffalo and
New York left hand. and two right
hand. The Northwestern Railway has
number Of times considered the Ques-
ton, but has found the expense to be
tremendous compared with the benefits
| to be obtained.
@. What is the name of Japan's new
crown prince?-R. w. L.
A. The imperial heir born to En-
peror Hirohito and Empress Nagako
was named Akihito Tsugu. a free
hghtened Benevolence.<
@. When will the Washington Cathe-
dral be completed?-A. ].
| A. The secretary's Office says that it
| Is impossible to say when the building
will be finished. This depends entirely
upon how quickly funds come into the
Office At the present time it figures
that If the money were available it
would take from Z to 8 years.
@. Is there a transatlantic telephone
cable between America and Europe?-
F. E. K
| A. The first transatlantic telephone
cable has not yet been laid, but is tn
course Of manufacture and will be COM
pleted some time within the next two
years It will go from New York City
to Boston, then to Maine, New Bruins
wick and Nova Scotia, across to New
foundland and will then have an 800-
mile section Of submarine cable to Ire
land, across Ireland and under the