Durango semi-weekly herald., 1901-08-22
Wages in Norway have been gradu.

Wages in Norway have been gradu-
ally increasing during the last %
years. This is due to the introduc-
ton OF manufacturers. labor-saving
machinery and the development OF
skilled labor by industrial schools.
thus increasing its productive capaoi-
ty, and largely to emigration. which
is an excellent regulator. During
hard times. labor troubles, financial
depression and low prices, emigration
is active. Large numbers of the peo.
pie leave the country for the United
States. When activity is resumed n
demand for working men and women
is created. and better pay is the re-
suit.
The most rapid increase in wages
has been among mechanics, factory
operatives and domestic servants.
The average increase in all occupa.
tions during the ten years between
the census of 1891 and 1901 is at least
! 5 per cent
Recent statistics show that the av-
erage expense of living in Norway,
including the entire population, men.
NcHAth Nhiiii Nhr - iop hIOntG per
capita, or about S32 year-nine cents
n day. This is probably lower than
that of any other country except those
of Asia. Nevertheless, there are no
poorhouses outside the large cities,
and comparatively few people are de
pendent upon charity. In every mu-
nicipality and parish a board of guard.
ians. composed of the priest, the chief
of police and some member of the
council affords relief from the pub
lie funds to those who need It, but it
is comparatively small. Sixty per
cent of the applications for charity
are due to Illness. 10 per cent to old
age, 10 per cent to accidents. 2 per
cent to drink and the remainder to
various causes. Forty per cent of
the relief is rendered in the shape of
medical assistance. 40 per cent by
food and the remainder by fuel and
clothing. Habitual loafers are sent
to the work houses, and their fami-
lies. if they have any. are taken to
the homes of the neighbors as SER
wants.
AS 81 per cent of the manufactur-
ing establishments of Norway are in
country villages the question of hous-
ing the working classes is not import
ant here. although it is attracting at
tention to certain extent in Chris
tiania, where building land is dear
and most of the people live in apart
ment houses. An official of the board
of health has charge of the sanitary
arrangements of all dwellings, but
the laws are not very strict, and the
absence of sewerage facilities make
it difficult to moderniZe the houses
Private companies, however, have
been organized by benevolent people,
as in other places, for the purpose of
constructing modern dwellings for
workingmen.
A paternal government serves as a
building and loan association, and
$4,000 kroner, which is equal to
about 100000, is now loaned at a
nominal rate of interest to persons
who desire to build homes of their
own. Two per cent is charged in
the country and 21a in the cities.
The loans are made through a bu-
reau of the treasury in charge of what
is known as the "house loan fund. "
No public money will be loaned. how
ever. to people who have not saved
enough to buy their own building lot,
FULLY paid for and they are expected
to refund the government loan in ten
annual installments. There are pri-
vate building loan associations also
which do a large business.
WILLIAM E. CURTIS.