Calculating Interest
To find the interest on any sum, at any rate per cent., and for any length of time: 1st. Multiply the principal by the rate per cent., expressed in hundredths; this will give the interest for one year. 2nd. Find the number of days remaining by consulting the calendar; and multiply the principal by as many hundredths as there are days, and for 3 per cent., divide the product by 120; for 4 per cent., divide by 90; for 5 per cent., divide by 72; for 6 per cent., divide by 60; for 7 per cent., divide by 52; for 8 per cent., divide by 45; for 9 per cent., divide by 40; for 10 per cent., divide by 36; and for 12 per cent., divide by 30. This will give the interest for the days. 3rd. Add the two items of interest, and the sum will be the entire interest.
To find the number of days from any day of any one month to the same day of any other month.
| From | Jan. | Feb. | Mar. | Apr. | May | June | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To January | 365 | 334 | 306 | 275 | 245 | 214 | ||||||
| February | 31 | 365 | 337 | 306 | 276 | 245 | ||||||
| March | 59 | 28 | 365 | 334 | 304 | 273 | ||||||
| April | 90 | 59 | 31 | 365 | 335 | 304 | ||||||
| May | 120 | 89 | 61 | 30 | 365 | 334 | ||||||
| June | 151 | 120 | 92 | 61 | 31 | 365 | ||||||
| July | 181 | 150 | 122 | 91 | 61 | 30 | ||||||
| August | 212 | 181 | 153 | 122 | 92 | 61 | ||||||
| September | 243 | 212 | 184 | 153 | 123 | 92 | ||||||
| October | 273 | 242 | 214 | 183 | 153 | 122 | ||||||
| November | 304 | 273 | 245 | 214 | 184 | 153 | ||||||
| December | 334 | 303 | 275 | 244 | 214 | 183 | ||||||
| N. B.—In leap year, if the last day of February comes between, add one day to the number in the table. | ||||||||||||
| From | July | Aug. | Sept. | Oct. | Nov. | Dec. | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| To January | 184 | 153 | 122 | 92 | 61 | 31 | ||||||
| February | 215 | 184 | 153 | 123 | 92 | 62 | ||||||
| March | 243 | 212 | 181 | 151 | 120 | 90 | ||||||
| April | 274 | 243 | 212 | 182 | 151 | 121 | ||||||
| May | 304 | 273 | 242 | 212 | 181 | 151 | ||||||
| June | 335 | 304 | 273 | 243 | 212 | 182 | ||||||
| July | 365 | 334 | 303 | 273 | 242 | 212 | ||||||
| August | 31 | 365 | 334 | 304 | 273 | 243 | ||||||
| September | 62 | 31 | 365 | 335 | 304 | 274 | ||||||
| October | 92 | 61 | 30 | 365 | 334 | 304 | ||||||
| November | 123 | 92 | 61 | 31 | 365 | 335 | ||||||
| December | 153 | 122 | 91 | 61 | 30 | 365 | ||||||
| N. B.—In leap year, if the last day of February comes between, add one day to the number in the table. | ||||||||||||
Canals.—The Suez Canal is 90 miles long with a depth of 35 feet, and is 108 feet wide at the bottom. It cost $100,000,000. The Manchester Canal, between Manchester and Liverpool, is 35-1/2 miles long, with a depth of 28 feet, and 120 feet wide at the bottom. It cost $85,000,000. The canal connecting the Baltic and North Seas is 61 miles long, 29-1/2 feet deep, and has a bottom width of 72 feet. It cost $40,000,000. The Panama Canal, which is not yet completed, will be about 50 miles in length, with a width of 300 feet, and a minimum depth of 41 feet. The United States Government paid $50,000,000 to the new French Canal Company and the Republic of Panama, for property rights and franchises, and the total cost of the canal will not be far from $375,000,000. At the present time nearly 50,000 men are at work upon the canal, and the official opening is announced for January 1, 1915. When completed, it will be the largest work of its class in the world, although not the longest canal.
Capacity of Cisterns or Wells.—For each ten inches in depth, a cistern 2 feet in diameter will hold 19 gallons; 2-1/2 ft., 30 g.; 3 ft., 44 g.; 3-1/2 ft., 60 g.; 4 ft., 78 g.; 4-1/2 ft., 97 g.; 5 ft., 122 g.; 5-1/2 ft., 148 g.; 6 ft., 176 g.; 6-1/2 ft., 207 g.; 7 ft., 240 g.; 7-1/2 ft., 275 g.; 8 ft., 313 g.; 8-1/2 ft., 353 g.; 9 ft., 396 g.; 9-1/2 ft., 461 g.; 10 ft., 489 g.; 11 ft., 592 g.; 12 ft., 705 g.; 13 ft., 827 g.; 14 ft., 959 g.; 15 ft.; 1101 g.; 20 ft., 1958 g.; 25 ft., 3059 g.
Capitol at Washington.—The Capitol is situated in latitude 38° 53´ 20´´.4 north and longitude 77° 00´ 35´´.7 west from Greenwich. It fronts east, and stands on a plateau eighty-eight feet above the level of the Potomac. The entire length of the building from north to south is 751 feet 4 inches, and its greatest dimension from east to west 350 feet. The area covered by the building is 153,112 square feet. The dome of the original central building was constructed of wood, covered with copper. This was replaced in 1856 by the present structure of cast iron. The entire weight of iron used is 8,909,200 pounds. The dome is crowned by a bronze statue of Freedom, which is nineteen feet, six inches, high and weighs 14,985 pounds. The height of the dome above the base line of the east front is 287 feet 5 inches. The height from the top of the balustrade of the building is 217 feet 11 inches. The greatest diameter at the base is 135 feet 5 inches. The rotunda is 97 feet 6 inches in diameter, and its height from the floor to the top of the canopy is 217 feet 3 inches. The Senate Chamber is 113 feet 3 inches in length, 83 feet 3 inches in width, and 36 feet in height. The galleries will accommodate 1,000 persons. The Representatives’ Hall is 139 feet in length, by 93 feet in width, and 36 feet in height. The room now occupied by the Supreme Court was, until 1859, the Senate Chamber. Previous to that time the court occupied the room immediately beneath, now used as a law library.
Celluloid.—Celluloid, from which many toilet articles and imitations of ivory are made, is composed from the cellulose found in cotton cloth or raw cotton. It is treated with a solution of nitric acid which forms it into a pulp very much like paper pulp. It is then washed with water, which removes most of the acid. It is partially hardened and camphor gum mixed with it, when it is rolled into sheets and thoroughly dried. In order to manipulate it, it is softened by steam and then hardened by drying. Celluloid is very inflammable. Wearers of celluloid combs and other ornaments should not expose themselves to fire.
Certified Checks.—A personal check becomes certified when across it is written “certified,” with the name of the bank and the signature of the cashier or other official. The bank, then, becomes liable for the amount of the check. If the maker of a check has his check certified, he is jointly responsible with the bank for its payment, but if the receiver of the check has it certified, the maker of the check is released from all responsibility.