Evening star., 1940-09-28
Huskin's Answers
To Questions
BIZ Frederic J. HdSkin.

A reader can get the answer to any
question OF fact by tDriting The EUe-
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric j. Haskin, director, Washington,
D. c. Please inclose stamp for reply.
@. Can you tell me II any Of our Presi-
dents was left handed?-E. F.
A. So far as we have been able to
learn, President Garfield was the only
left-handed Chief Executive.
q. Where Is the largest county In the
United States?-J. S. A.
A. San Barnardino County in Cali
fornia is the largest with an area Of
POTTS square miles.
@. What happens to anti-aircraft fire?
Isn't there as much danger from this as
from bombs?-B. l..
A. The National Bureau of Standards
says that shell fragments from anti-air-
craft fire do fall on city. One OF the
reasons for air-alarm sirens is to clear
the streets of people so that they will
not be injured by shell fragments. The
average anti-aircraft shell would be
blown into approximately $500 frag-
ments. Many of these are small, and
they do not gather a very high velocity
in falling. Larger FRAGMENTS may, how
ever, fall fast enough to cause serious or
fatal injury.
Q. How large is the organization known
IeO
A. The Swiss Guards of the Vatican
consist of 10 officers and ITO men. Only
Swiss men can enter and privateS are
not allowed to marry.
@. Who was the first railroad engineer
in the United States?-J. V. H.
A. The first American railroad engi-
neer was Nicholas W. Darrell. He oper-
ated the Best Friend" of Charleston,
of the South Carolina Canal & Rail Road
Co., on its first trip, December 25, 1880.
O. What is the name of the bird that
can be trained to fsh?-G. L. o.
A. In China and Japan cormorants are
used for this purpose. They perch on
the edge of the boat and when released,
swim about until their large throats are
filled with fishes. Each bird has strap
around its neck TO prevent it from swal-
lowing its catch.
@. Where is the biggest sawmill In the
world?-C. B.
A. The Forest Service says that the
largest in the United States, and prob
ably in the world, is the Longview
Branch Weyerhauser Mill. Longviev,
Wash.~ It's capacity is 100000 board feet
per eight-hour day.
@. How are the balloons of balloon
barrage managed?-M. J. w.
A. The balloon barrage consists of
series Of captive balloons having cables
suspended from them for the purpose of
fouling hostile aircraft. They are re-
strained from the ground by lines oper-
ating from anchored trollies or mobile
winches. There is no gondola or occu-
pant aboard.
O. To settle a dispute with friend of
mine, please tell me the diameter, speed
and range of torpedo.-J. M.
A. The latest types Of torpedoes are
about 81 inches in diameter and over 20
feet long. The most powerful torpedo
can travel about six miles with . speed
of nearly 80 miles per hour before its
power is exhausted. If adjusted for
shorter distances it can travel at a rate
Of about 40 miles per hour at distance
of two or three miles.
@. Recently saw a reference TO Ma
caulay's prophecy. Can you tell me what
it was?-L. c.
A. The following lines appear in Lord
Macaulays "On Rankes History of the
Popes'' October, 1840): She Ghe Roman
Catholic Church, may still exist in un-
diminished vigor when some traveller
from New Zealand shall, in the midst of
a vast solitude, take his stand on a
broken arch of London Bridge to sketch
the ruins of St. Pauls"