Evening star., 1939-03-24
Hoskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
By Frederic J. Haski1.

BY Fredertc J. HGSkfn.
A reader can get the answer to any
question of fact by 1oriting The Epe.
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred.
eric J. H1sktn, Director, Washington,
D. c. Please i,,close stamp for replv
Q. Please give the number Of motion
picture companies in the United States
and the number Of pictures they pro-
duce.-T. F.
A. There are over 200 firms engaged
in the production of motion pictures in
the United States. These companies
produce an average of 800 feature films
and 1000 short-subject films q year.
Ninety per cent Of the motion pictures
produced are made in Hollywood, Calf,
and the remaining 10 per cent are pro-
duced in New York.
@. Who authorized the number of
stars in the flag?-J. H. c.
A. The Congressional Act Of June IA,
1777, provided that the Union be 13 stars
in blue field REPRESENTING a new con-
stellation, thus signalling to mankind
the birth Of the first nation on earth
dedicated to personal and religious
liberty.
@. What are young turkeys called?-
L. c. B.
A. Until the sex can be distinguished,
the young Of domestic turkeys are called
"poults." Thereafter, up to / year of
age, young birds are called cockerels and
pullets. Birds over 1-year old are called
toms and hens.
@. Did Benjamin Franklin bequeath
fund to Philadelphia and Boston,
w. J. H.
A. Benjamin Franklin, by his will
dated June %, l7s9, bequeathed to the
cities of Boston and Philadelphia alike
the sum of 1000 pounds sterling, Ito be
let out upon interest at per cent per
annum to such young married artificers,
under the age of 25 years Oater extended
by the court to IS years. as have served
an apprenticeship in the said town, and
faithfully fulfilled the duties required in
their indentures." The fund was to run
for 100 years, at which time Mr. Frank
lin believed it would amount to $4,000
pounds He directed that $1,000 pounds
should be continued to be let out at
interest for another 100 years, and that
100000 pounds should be Laid out in
public works. Notifications, bridges,
aqueducts, public buildings, baths, etc..
or whatever may make living in the
town more convenient to its people ano
render it more agreeable to strangers
resorting thither for health or a tenn
| porary residence"
@. How old is Tony Galento?-R. NJ
A. The fighter, Tony Galento, is 20
years old.
@. How large is Lake Pontchartrain in
Louisiana and why is it so called?-P. H.
A. According to Gannetts Origin OF
| Place Names in the United States" Lake
Pontchartrain was named for French
count who was an early explorer of the
| Mississippi Valley. The lake is 40 miles
| long and Is miles wide.
@. Is it necessary for man to have
perfect teeth in order to enlist In the
Navy?-J. z.
A. In order to be eligible for enlist
ment in the Navy an applicant must
have at least 20 vital serviceable teeth
and OF these not less than four opposed
incisors. of which two are directly op-
posed on each side of the median line,
and four opposed molars, of which two
are directly opposed on each side of the
dental arch. Teeth properly filed or
which have been properly restored by
crowns may be considered servicea5le
when the history and appearance clearly
warrant such consideration.
on lamp?-P. F. S.
| A. The initials l. E. S. stand for
Illuminating Engineers Society. When
tag bearing these initials is attached
to lamp 1t means that such a lamp
has been approved by the society.
@. Who established the AZ Workshop
at Harvard?-L. H. G.
| A. The late George Pierce Baker
| CStdUAo1lCO dIlO COlluUCt6u Vic n WUIk-
shop until 1924 in connection with his
course in drama known as English A7.
@. Do many people visit Abraham
Lincoln's birthplace near Hodgenville,
| Ky.?-L S. D.
A. During the 1898 travel year (Oc-
tober l, 1887 to September 30, 1889,
l21 ,144 tourists visited this shrine
@. How was Treasure Island, the site
Of the San Francisco Worlds Fair, built?
| p. r. P.
| A. Treasure Island was reclaimed from
San Francisco Bay by Army engineers.
1t was founded in Yerba Buena Shoals,
which was chosen for a central loca-
ton, and was financed by over SO 100000
from w. P. A. funds. A fleet of II
dredges pumped black sand from the
floor Of the bay and sloughed it through
| pipe lines over the shoal. A sea wall
containing over 100000 tons of quarried
rock was built. The natural depth was
from 2 to 26 feet below water, and a
four-acre rectangle was filled in to its
present elevation Of 13 feet above the
tides. It stands now as the largest island
ever built by man.
@. What is the largest Diesel loco