Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1934-07-20

BY FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

A reader can get the dnsicer to
any question OF fact BY trrtttEg
The Washington Epening Star In
formation Bureau, Frederic J.
Hdskin, Director. Washington. ID.
c. Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. How does the size of the White
House executive once STAFF of Presi-
dent Roosevelt compare with some OF
his predecesSors2--R. Z. B.
A. The present staff numbers more
than $50, compared with somewhat
over rs under Mr.. Hoover. a little
more than 30 under Mr.. Taft and
less than IS under Col. Roosevelt.
@. Approximately how many words
have been broadcast by Amos and
Andy since they have been on the
air and how many characters have
they created2-S. B.
A. Amos n Andy have broadcast
$500, 900 words, all Of which they have
written themselves. They have in
troduced more than rs different char
acters. playing all parts themselves.
@. Is more poultry raised by farm
ers OF by commercial poultrymen9--
c. B.
A. Only one-hfth OF the total Is
raised by commercial poultry raiserS,
the farm fiocks accounting for four
fifths.
Q. When and where was steel first
made2-A. p. #.
A. 1t is not known definitely when
and where the first steel was made.
Archeologists state that 1t was known
to the ancients and It Is probable
that the Assyrians were the first peo-
pie to use It In the manufacture OF
tools and weapons. Steel has been
used for many centuries in India. The
art of hardening and tempering steel
was q familiar one to the Greeks in
Homer's time, not later than the ninth
century BIC.
@. Has Rachmaninon any brothers
and sisters?-F. T.
A. The musician is one of six chill
dren, of whom only one other, o
brother, is alive today.
@. How often do pigeons produce
their young?-H. J.
A. Wild members of the pigeon
family ordinarily do not lay more
than two clutches year, consisting
OF two squads each. The semi-domes-
ticated pigeons common In the vicin-
ity of cities, however. lay more fire.
quently because of more favorable con-
ditions. The maximum number of
squads which could be expected a
year from birds In captivity is eight
pairs raised to maturity. This num-
Der would probably be obtained from
"a eggs year. allowing for losses.
@. How many widows of soldiers
who served in the Mexican War are
still on the pension rolls?-O. M.
A. There are AIS widows of Mex
lean veterans on the pension rolls.
@. What Is Saxby's Gale7-H. C. G.
A. It is the name given to violent
storm, which occurred on October 4,
1859. on the coast Of New Brunswick,
Maine and Nova Scotia. It was ac-
companied by a tide of extraordinary
height. The storm, which appar-
emily came up from the West Indies
and caused heavy rains in Eastern
United States, was called Saxby's Gale
because a Lieut.. Saxby of the British
Navy had announced year previously
that a., great storm and high tide
would occur on October 5. The pre-
diction had been based on the sup
posed influence Of the moon, but 1t wai
entirely indefinite as to the place
where the storm would occur.
@. Can you give me the number Of
steamship companies operating In the
Philippine Islands trade?-M. I. J.
A. There are 50 separate lines which
maintain q regular service to and
from Manila and other ports OF the
Philippines