Evening star., 1939-05-23
Answers
To Questions
BY Frederic J. HasEin,


A reader can get the ansDer to anu
question OF fact by prittng The Ere
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Haskin, director, Washinoton,
d. c.. Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. Who originated the Soap Box
Derby?-F. C. B.
A. Myron Scott, a photographer on
the Dayton (Ohio) News, was the origi-
nator of the Soap Box Derby. The first
contest was held in that city in 1888.
Mr.. Scott interested the Chevrolet Motor
Co. in the idea and the first national
Soap Box Derby was held in Dayton in
1884, with boys of "a cities participating.
In 1885 the headquarters was moved to
Akron and boys of over 100 cities were
entered.
Q. How many different kinds of ami
mails are there in the world?-L. S.M
A. There are nearly a million known
species OF animals living at the present
time. This includes all kinds from the
one-celled amoeba to the highest type.
q. When was the first earthquake in
the United States?-W. O.
A. According to Earthquake History
OF the United States" the earliest
earthquake reported felt was on June l
or 2, 1888, at Plymouth, Mass. The first
instrumental record was obtained on a
selsmograph installed at the University
OF California, Berkeley, in 1885.
q. Please give the formulas Of the
topslde and anti-fouling paint used by
the Navy for small wooden boats.-A. w.
A. The Bureau of Construction and
Repair of the Navy Department gives
the following formulas for this purpose
for 100 gallons: Topside paint Qight
gray, zinc oxide, in oil, 353 pounds;
tltanlum pigment, in oil, 500 pounds;
lampblack, in oil, IL pounds: ultra
marine blue, in oil, 8 pounds; raw lin
seed oil, 406 pounds; paint drier, lO4
pounds. Copper paint for bottoms of
wooden vessels: Zinc oxide, dry. l65
pounds; Indian red, dry, l65 pounds;
cuprous oxide, rs pounds; gum shellac,
1852 pounds; alcohol, 500 pounds; pine
oil, 80 pounds.
Q. Who was the last Revolutionary
War widow to receive a pension?-W.
j. H.
A. The last Revolutionary War widow
receiving pension was Esther Damon,
widow of Noah Damon. She died No.
Vember II, 1906, at Plymouth Vt.
O. Is woman who presides at
banquet called a toastmistress?-M. Ed.
A. She is referred to as a toastmaster.
The trend is away from words which
have a feminine ending.
O. How many automobiles are there
IN the world? What percentage of these
are in the United States?-E. CHI
A. In 1888 there were ~ 900 900 motor
vehicles registered in the world, 2e210,-
900 (68 per cent? of which were in ths
United States.
@ Who, invented and patented the
flrst washing machines?-E G. S.
A. The first washing machine with a
rotary motion was made in 1859 bv
Hamilton E. Smith at Pittsburgh. Pa,
patent No. 21909 Q0-26-5S). He con-
tlnued to improve it until 1863. when he
patented the first self-reversible motion
attachment. The first complete self
contained electric washing machine was
Thor. 1t was put on the market in
1907 and was patented by Alva j. Fisher,
Its inventor, August 9, 1910, patent No.
966677.
Q. Please give the inscription on the
grave of William Wilberforce, the Eng
hsh statesman and philanthropist.-G
V. B.
A The epitaph on the statue erected
to William Wilberforce in Westminster
Abbey is: In an age and country fertile
IN great and good men he was among
the foremost of those who fixed the
character of their times; because to high
and various talents, to warm benevolence
and to universal candour, he added the
aololng eloQuence of a Christian life"
Q. Is there a law that large salaries
must be reported to Congress?-R. w. S.
A. Section l48-D of the Revenue Act
OF 1884 provided that all salaries in ex-
cess of $4,000 must be reported to the
Ways and Means Committee of the
House of Representatives Section 148-F
OF the Revenue Act of 1888 provided that
all salaries in excess of $4,000 must be
reported to the Secretary of the Treas
ury and this list will be made available
to the public
@. Please give some information about
Howard Scott, director of Technocracv.
Inc.-A. F. w.
A. Howard Scott was born in Virginia
in 1891. His father was one of the build
ers Of the railroad between Bagdad and
Berlin. He attended school in France
end Germany and graduated from the
University of Berlin. He holds the de-
gree of doctor of engineering from this
university. During the war he was in
Canada and directed the building of
two Canadian munition plants. He has
directed engineering projects in Mexico
Spain and other countries. After the
war he was technician in charge of the
Muscle Shoals project.
@. What is the origin of badminton?-
c. R. S.
A. The Encyclopedia of Sports saws
that badminton was called poona when
1t originated in India many centuries