Evening star., 1940-09-07
Haskin's Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Hnskfr,.

By Frederic J. Rasktn.
A reader can get the ansWer to dny
question OF fact by Driting The Epe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Hdskin, director Washington,
d. G. Please inclose stamp for reply.
Q. What is the per capita national
debt?-C. P. v.
A. The per capita Indebtedness as of
June 80. 1899. was s3os34
Q. Who settled Spokane, wash.?-J.
TN.
A. The first permanent settlement on
the site was made in 1874 by James N.
Glover, who bought tract of land from
two trappers. The town was incor-
porated in 1881 as Spokane Falls, re-
ceived city charter later in the year,
and became the county seat in 1882. In
1890 Falls" was dropped from the name
Spokane, said to mean children Of the
sun, was the name Of an Indian tribe
of Salishan stock which had formerly
occupied the river valley.
@. When is national book week.
H. T. c.
A. 1t will be observed from November
10 to Is.
@. Did President Roosevelt veto the
bonus bill?-H. H.
A. President Roosevelt vetoed the bo-
nus bill in 1885. 1t was passed over his
veto in the House of Representatives,
but failed to pass the Senate. In 1886
the President vetoed it again, but the
veto was overridden by the House on jan
uary "a by vote of 325 to 81, and on
January 27 in the Senate by a vote of
rs to 10.
@. What is dirndl dreSs?-C. H.D.
A. In the Austrian peasant dialect,
dirndl means young girl. The word is
now commonly used of the peasant type
of dress similar to that worn in Austria,
with full skirt and tightly fitted bodice.
Q. What are old newspapers used for?
WE.C.
A. The National Bureau of Standards
says that old newspapers are used as a
hbrous raw material for coarse fiber
products. such as chip board, news board
and various other coarse papers.
@. Which Of our senses is utilized the
most?-H. P. E
A. Scientists have estimated that we
receive knowledge of the outer world as
follows: Sight, 81 per cent; hearing.
per cent; smell. 80 per cent; touch, Ia
per cent, and taste, per cent.
G. How old is the Nazi party?-H. G S.
A. Hitler and six companions founded
the National Socialist party at Munich
in 1920.
O. What is an electric steam iron?-
J. J. H.
A. Consumers Digest says that the
electric steam iron, which steams as it
pressed, consists essentially of an ordi-
nary electric fatiron usually of the non
automatic type, with a water reservoir
directly over the heating element. This
reservoir, which holds about one pint of
water, is connected to the steam exit
holes in the soleplate by means of a
small steam pipe, the upper end Of which
may be placed in a steam dome located
in the forward part of the iron.
@. What is the origin of firing guns
at the burial of a soldier?-J. D. E.
A. The custom of firing three volleys
over the grave of deceased veteran Is
derived from the old Roman custom of
casting earth over the coffin, calling the
dead by name three times and then say
ing vale" three times. The word vale
is the Latin word for farewell. The firing
of three volleys is saying farewell to the
deceased.
Q. What is meant by an airplane pilots
flight plan?-E. T. J.
A. Before every fight the pilots pre-
pare detailed plan of the flight, giving
altitude, wind direction and velocities,
outside air temperatures to be expected,
ground speed and estimated time of ar
rival The pilot is required to be on
duty usually one hour before departure
time During this time he analyzes
weather conditions in consultation with
the meteorologist and dispatcher and
prepares his flight plan.