Evening star., 1936-01-20
ANSWERS TO
QUESTIONS

| QUESTIONS |
BY Frederic J. Haskin.
A reader can get the answer to any
question OF fact by tDrtttng The Washing
ton EDeninO Star Information Bureau,
Frederic J. Haskin, Director, Washing
ton, D. c. Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. Do people in England drink much
more tea than Americans do?-D. D.
A. A great deal more. The per capita
consumption of tea in England is nine
pounds; in the United States three
quarters Of pound. On the other hand,
the per capita consumption of coffee in
the United States is 13 pounds, while
in England it is only seven-tentns of a
pound.
@. Can brick building be moved?-
L. NJ
A. The National Bureau of Standards
says that brick building can be moved
without being wrecked. Generally, steel
sills are placed under the walls and
the building lifted by hydraulic jacks.
1t is then moved on steel rollers on Spe.
c;al track.
@. What color is Mrs. Hoover's gown
in the National Museum collection OF
gowns worn by mistreSses Of the White
HouSe?-J. B.
A. 1t is pale green satin gown
@. Why do all the houses in Bermuda
have white roofs?-J. L. B.
A. The white roofs are used to obtain
and store fresh water. There is strict
ly enforced law in Bermuda that every
house must have suitable water catch
and storage tank. Rain falling on the
white roofs, or into hillside catchments
dug into coral, is diverted to storage
tanks, which are inspected and lime
washed regularly. There is a reservoir
needs, but the catch system is used for
private homes because it is less expen-
sive.
@. Are marionettes popular in the
United States?-K. L.
A. There are now more than so pro-
fessional marionette troupes presenting
over 500 plays. A number of cities have
courses in puppetry and courses have
been introduced at the University Of
California, Johns Hopkins, the Univer-
sity Of Wisconsin and in other colleges
and schools.
@. How many species Of birds are there
in this country?-G. r. S.
A. There are 1,420 species and SUBJ
species of birds known to scientists in
the United States and Canada.
c. How many different kinds of tobac-
co are grown in Kentucky and which
kind is most important?-L r. C.
A. Six different types of tobacco are
grown. They are as follows: Burley, One
Sucker, Green River Clarksville and
Hopkinsville, Paducah and Henderson
Stemming. White Burley is by far the
most important type grown in the State.
@. What is an outwash plain?-J. L.
A. An outWash plain is composed OF
sands and gravels that were washed out
from beneath glaciers when the margin
OF the ice remained stationary for a
considerable length of time. The SOUTH
crn half of Long Island is an outwash
plain and the city of Plainfeld, N. j.,
is located on such a surface.
Q. How many people in the United
States operate amateur radios?-R. w.
A. There are nearly $4,000 amateur
radio operators in this country.
@. How old was the late Lord Reading
at the time of his death?-T. w.
A. Rufus Daniel Isaacs, Marques of
Reading. who died in December, was Is
years of age. His life included many
distinguished careers. He was lawyer,
judge, financier, diplomatist. statesman
and administrator. He held the Offices
of lord chief justice of England and
Viceroy of India.
@. What was the Eutaw flag?-R V.B.
A. A crimson banner presented in 1880
to Col. William A. Washington by Miss
Jane Elliott of South Carolina, whom
later he married. The flag was carried
at the battles of Eutaw Springs and
Cowpens. It is now in the possession of
the Washington Light Infantry of
Charleston.
Q. Is the word Italian" correctly pro.
nounced with long or short j"?-
E. A. K.
A. 1t is short, as in the word 'it."
@. Did any President before Abraham
Lincoln use the pocket veto?-A. E. G..
A. According to a compilation of pres
idential vetoes by Edward Campbell
Mason, the earliest pocket veto was given
by President Madison. H. R. TO- first
session of the Twelfth Congress, relating
to naturalization. President Jackson
gave seven pocket vetoes, President Polk
one, and President Buchanan three.
@. How old must tree be when the
first layer of cork is removed from it?-
o. G.
A. 1t should be about 20 years old
The first crop, called virgin cork, is Of
poor quality. The tree is stripped at
intervals of eight or ten years. Cork cut
from a tree about 40 years old is the
best. If the operation is skilfully done.
the tree is unharmed and lives about
$50 years.
@. How does the number of coin COL
lectors in the United States compare
with the number of stamp collectors?-
l.. S.
A. There are only about 5000 coin
collectors. as compared to approx.
mately 250,000 stamp collectors.