Evening star., 1943-09-20
Hoskin's Answers
To Questions
By Frederic J. Haskin.


BY Frederic J. Hasktn.
Many readers send In qsestions to
the Information Bureau signed only
,Dith initials, asking that the an
sDers appear in the nepspdper. This
space Is limited and tcould not ac-
commoddte a traction OF such re-
quests. Besides, many OF these Ques-
tions are too personal to be of gen-
eral interest. Send your Questions
to The Evening Star Information
Bureau, Frederic J. Hdskin, Director,
Washington. d. C. Inclose stamp for
return postage.
Q. How high is the new volcano in
Mexico?-L. e. @.
A. Paracutin, the new volcano, Is de-
scribed as a gray cone rising 900 feet
above the corn field In which it suddenly
erupted.
@. Why was the first Monday In Sep.
tember chosen to be Labor Day?-R. N.
A. The first Monday in September
was chosen because 1t was halfway
date between the Fourth of July and
Thanksgiving. Colorado was the frst
State legally to adopt the plan in 1887.
and other States fell in line with similar
acts.
@. Is it possible for q submarine to
stop before reaching the bottom when
making a crash dive?-C. C.
A. The Navy Department says that
1t is possible for submarine In .
cI diva ta sfon hal IL .~t. 49,
bottom of the ocean without injury to
its motors.
@. What is the rate of the fow Of oil
through the Big Inch?-M. w.
A. The rate of oil now in the Big Inch
pipe line Is approximately 100 miles per
day. 1t requires therefore, approxi-
mately two weeks for given particle Of
oil to travel from the main terminal ut
Longview, Tex, to the refineries at New
York or Philadelphia.
Q. How many kittens does cat pro-
duce in hfetime?-W. v. A.
A. According to Ida M. Mellen, the
number varies greatly. Although 40
has been suggested as the possible maxi
mum. one cat bred for as years, had
more than 200 kittens.
@. Where is the Silver Madonna?--
B. r. G.
A. The Silver Madonna Of Jeanne
D. Evreux, executed in 1886, was In the
Louvre. No information is available a.
to its present whereabouts.
O. What was the nrst capital of Colo.
rado?-M. H.
A. The first capital of Colorado was
Colorado City, 1861 to 1862. Golden was
the capital from 1862 to 1868. Since that
time Denver has been the capital.
Q. How many factories now engaged
In defense work are owned by the Gov
ernment?-J. w.
nounced on March 10, 1s43, that there
have come into actual operation 1,022
of the 1,479 plant projects owned by
Defense Plant Corp, subsidiary Of the
Reconstruction Finance Corp. The
grand total Of all commitments ap-
proved by DpC dncluding projects sub
| sequently Cancelled or deferred) is
$9,175. .19o,25s.1o.
@. Please explain the allusion to Ma
poleon's fatal oversight at the battle Of
Waterloo.-K. 8.
A. The reference is to his failure to
take into account the sunken Ohain
road. The French cavalry charged
across It in great numbers and were
slaughtered because of their inability
to scale the steep banks. Historians
believe that this exploit has been too
much stressed as the cause Of the loss
of the battle of Waterloo. It was simply
an incident In Napoleon's defeat.
O. How did Buzzards Bay receive this
name?-E. L. D.
A. The Board Of Geographical Names
says Buzzards Bay, on the southern
coast of Massachusetts,, probably is
named for the osprey, a hawklike bird
not unlike the bald buzzard Of England,
formerly common on its shores.
| Q. What minerals are necessary to
the human body?-E. r. M.
! A. For life and health at least IL
minerals seem essential, including phos-
| phorus, calcium, iron, copper, iodine,
| sodium, cobalt, manganese, magnesium,
potassium chlorine, sulphur and xnc.
@. Why is there always . mouse at
the feet of Saint Gertrude?-M. A.
A. This Belgian saint is the patron Of
travellers, especially by sea, and is held
to give protection from rats and mice
ard fever.
@. Do soldiers serving overseas receive
additional pay?-D. L. B.
A. The base pay of warrant officers
and enlisted men of the United States
Army is increased by 20 per cent for any
period OF service while on sea duty or
duty in any place beyond the conti-
mental limits of the United States or in
Alaska, which increase shall be In ad-
dition to pay and allowances otherwise
authorized.
@. When was the mummy Of Cheops
removed from the Great Pyramid of
Egypt?-W. E. F.
A. The disappearance of the mummy
Is one of the worlds mysteries. No one
knows how or when the tomb was in
vaded.
Q. Where should one send binoculars
to be donated to the Navy?-R F. G.