Evening star., 1935-09-03
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS
BY Frederic ]. Haskin.

question Of fact By writing The Washing
ton Epenino Star Information Bureau,
Frederic J. Haskin, Director, Washing
ton, D. C. Please ircIose stamp for reply
@. How long do tire changes take
during the Indianapolis Speedway race?
A. j. H.
A. Twelve to thirteen seconds Is the
customary time for tire change at the
indianapolis track. record was set
there several years ago when q crew
changed tire in slightly over eight
seconds.
@. What size are the lifeboats used
by the Coast Guard?-R. B.
A. One type is So feet long, has 150-
horsepower engine, accommodates 80
passengers comfortably, so in an
emergency. There is also a 36-foot life
boat, accommodating Is to 40 passengers.
In addition to the motor hfeboats, the
Coast Guard uses surfboats-a motor
surfboat and q pulling surfboat.
Q. When was Tuskegee Institute estab-
lished?-H. G.
A. This institution for the education
Of Negroes was established in 1881 by
an act of the Alabama Legislature under
the name of Tuskegee State Normal
School. 1t was opened July 4, 1881.
Q. Where is the mountain called
Camel's Hump?-E. B.
A. This is one of the peaks Of the
Green Mountains in Vermont, II miles
west of Montpelier.
@. Is the octopus fish, an animal or
q plant?-E. v.
A. The octopus is an animal rather
than a plant, but it is not fish. The
term fish is used rather loosely to mean
any marine animal. but it should be
correctly applied only to vertebrate ami
mails like the cod and the trout. The
octopus belongs to the phylum known as
molluSca and to the class Of mollusks
called cephalopoda, meaning head
footed.
Q. Please give biography Of the no
torious Dick Turpin.-L. r. j.
A. Richard Turpin, English highway
man, was born at Hampstead. Essex,
where his father was an innkeeper. He
was apprenticed to a butcher, and de-
tected in cattle stealing, he fed and
: Joined a gang Of thieves. Later he be-
came associated with the highwayman.
Tom King, whom he fatally shot when
trying to prevent Kings arrest. He
escaped into Yorkshire where he passed
for a gentleman, but was soon suspected.
captured with stolen horses, tried and
executed.
@. How much did it cost to go 10 the
theater in Shakespeare's time?-M. L. F.
A. In England, in Shakespeares time,
prices for theater seats varied from a
penny to shilling.
@. Does the bride rehearse her we'd
ding?-D. w.
A. The bride always directs her we'd
ding rehearsal, but never takes part in
it. Some one else-any one who happens
to be presents appointed as under
study.
@. How many mosques are there in
Cairo?-A. M.
A. There are 500 mosques in the city.
@. How long has the Army had mill
tary enginerS?-R. L.
A. The need for military engineers
was recognized in the War of the Revo-
luton, and Gen. Washington was eu-
thorized to raise, officer and equip a
corps of engineers The corps was
mustered out of the service at the close
of the war. Commencing in 1874 corps
of combined artilleristS and engineers
had brief existence, but the union was
discontinued by the act Of Congress of
March 16, 1902, which formally estab-
he of E,ndiY1aoFS
@. How wide is the tunnel cut
through the Wawona tree in the Mari
posa Grove of big trees?-A. s. z.
A. The famous tunnel tree, the Wa
wona, has an opening cut through it
which is 8 feet wide. This tree Is 23l
feet tall and 2712 feet in diameter.
@. When were the Cherokee Indian
tribal rolls closed?-M. H.
A. They were closed by Congress,
March 4, 1907.
@. What difference is there in density
between muscular tissue and fat?- 6. S.
A. The density of muscular tissue Is
approximately and the density Of fat
| is approximately .85.
@. How long did it take to build the
| subway in MoScow?-F. B.
A. 1t took three years. Construction
was begun in 1892 and completed in the
early part of 1885.
@. How far above sea level is the Lake
! of the Woods in Northern Minnesota
G.. j.
A. 1t lies at an altitude of 1,057 feet.
@. How may postage stamps be re-
| moved from paper and cleaned?-H. w.
A. The only safe method of cleaning
postage stamps is by soaking in cold
water until the paper or other foreign
matter is removed. Cold water could
injure only certain postage stamps such
as those printed with aniline ink and
those printed on chalky surface paper.
Stamps of this character may be "hoated
of" the paper adhering to the stamp
by placing the stamp. face upward. on
| top of the water. In few minutes the
paper will be thoroughly saturated and
the stamp may be easily removed. If
this method is used the face OF the
stamp will not touch the water. The
stamp should then be dried face down
on white blotting paper. If the stamps
show q tendency to curl, lay nat and
press in q book. Stamps soiled from
handling or with grease spots may be
improved by placing in benzine. This
will not injure the stamp in any way
or affect the original gum.