Evening star., 1940-05-03
Hoskin's Answers
To Readers Questions
By Frederic J. Hdsktn.


A reader can get the ansDer to am
question OF fact by Urtttng The Epe.
ming Star Information Bureau, Fred
eric J. Haskin, director, Washington,
D. G. Please inclose stamp for repIy.
@. What was the first transcontinental
telegraph message?-M. B.
A. The first transcontinentai tele-
graph message was sent to Abraham
Lincoln from Stephen j. Field, chief JUS
tice Of California, on october "a, 1861.
The message was as follows: 'In the
temporary absence Of the Governor Of
the State I am requested to send you
the first message which will be trans
mitted over the wires of the telegraph
line which connects the Pacific with the
Atlantic States. The people of Cali
fornia desire to congratulate you upon
the completion of your great work. They
believe that 1t will be the means OF
strengthening the attachment which
binds both the East and the West to
the Union and they desire in this-the
first message across the contirent-to
express their loyalty to the UnIol and
their election to stand by their Govern
ment on this day of trial.
@. In which Of Kipling'A poems is the
line "He travels the fas,sst who travels
alone?"-H. =.
A. 1t is from th. poem entitled 1.-THE
Winners"
@. For whom is Maury-Brooke Science
Hall at Virginia Military Institute
named?-G. B. H.
A. Maury-Brooke Hall is memorial
to Commodore Matthew Fontaine
Maury, the pathfinder Of the seas, con-
sidered by many the foremost American
scientist of his day, and Comdr. John
Mercer Brooke, inventor Of the deep-sea
sounding apparatus and originator Of
the Brooke or jacketed gun now in gen.
eral use. Both of these men served as
officers in the United States Navy. Later
they resigned and served with the Con-
federate Navy. After the Civil War, and
until their deaths, they were members
of the academic staff of the Virginia
Military Institute.
Q. What cities have been the capital
of Ohio?-G. G.
A. Chillicothe was the capital of Ohio
from 1903 to 1910, GAINESVILLE from 1910
to 1916 and Columbus from 1916 on.
@. How many telephone calls minute
are handled by exchanges in New York
City?-R. H. M.
A. There were slightly more than 5000
telephone calls handled every minute by
all telephone exchanges in New York
City on an average business day during
the year 1889. This figure includes both
local and toll calls originating in New
York City as well as an estimate for in
coming calls terminating in New York
City.
@. Has Seabiscuit brother?-J E. c.
A. The Jockey Club says that the
2-year-hold chestnut colt Naval Reserve
is registered as Seabiscuit's full brother.
O. When was Mr.. McNutt Governor Of
Indiana?-H. K H.
A. Paul v. McNutt was Governor Of
Indiana from 1888 to 1887. when he was
appointed United States High Commits
sioner to the Philippines.
@. How much oil is produced In Ru-
mania?-F. w.
A. The total production of oil in Ru-
mania in 1889 was As 1896 900 barrels.
@. Please give the date of the Bach
Music Festival in Bethlehem, Pax.
r. D.
A. The annual Bach festival will be
| held on Friday, May II, and Saturday,
May 18, in Packer Memorial Chapel at
Lehigh University under the direction of
Ifor Jones.
| @. Which one of the Fox sisters mar
ried DR.. Elisha Kent Kane?-W M. c.
A. Margaret met the Arctic explorer,
DR.. Elisha Kent Kane, while in Phila-
delphia. After his return from the Arctic
he saw her only briefly before he left on
the journey on which he died in 1857.
She proclaimed that he had acknowl-
| edged common-law marriage with her
before her relatives, and. to the distress
| of his family, assumed his name The
National Cyclopedia of American Biog-
raphy states, There is slight authority
for the statement made by Margaret
Fox. one of the family of celebrated
| spiritualists, that she and Kane had
been privately married before he left
England, as his long correspondence
! with her has since been published
@. What is the fastest pursuit plane
ever built?-G H.
A. It is believed to be the Grumman
Skyrocket, which is Americas latest con-
tribution to the air power Of the world.
The Skyrocket's speed is estimated at
$50 miles per hour. With Widespread
of AZ feet and length of % feet, 1t car
ries two 1,200-horsepower engines.
@. Please explain the term "on the
coast" in a weather forecast-C. N.
A. The United States Weather Bu-
reau says that it refers to the water area
Immediately adjacent to and extending
from 100 to $50 miles from the coast.
@. When did Yves Ferrell pitch q no.
hit game?-F. G.
A. Wes Ferrell pitched no-hit game
against st. Louis April 20, 1881.
The Old Mailman