River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1901-08-22

VI OuI lUIlu JUWuSludu, SUTcu j ,
Rasmussen. The letters were written
in July while Mr.. Rasmussen was on
a visit to his old home in Norway, and
published in the Starbuck (Minn.)
Times.
Bergen, Norway, July 3, 1901.
Mr.. EDIToR:-
Many who will read this letter are
familiar with the experience of a trip
across the Atlantic ia the good old
days in voyage of ten weeks or more
of ocean travel on a sailing vessel.
These would be astonished to board
big ocean liner Of the present day and
complete the voyage in less than
week.
1t was my good fortune TO secure
passage on the Oceanic, the biggest
steamship anoat before the Celtic was
completed. To say that the vessel is
704 feet long, has engines OF 10000
horse power TO drive her ponderous
hull of 1924 tons burthen through
the water, with her 1900 passengers
and her crew of 45U persons, hardly
gives an adequate idea Of the size of
this monster of the deep. The food
she carries for an average round trip
is something the size Of an ordln-
airy cargo Of common ship. III such
a voyage the passengers consume 900
gallons Of milk, 100 gallons of cream,
I,500 pounds Of tea, A tons Of sugar,
| ,250 pounds of coffee, CO. 900 pounds Of
meat. The ship In its appointments
is floating palace. The saloon will
seat $50 people, the room being 50 feet
by 81 in dimensions, magnifcently
furnished and beautifully decorated
but description is tame-it must be
seen TO be appreciated. y
1t surprises one who revisits Bergen
and other leading towns in Norway
as well-tO witness the number of
new buildings that have been erected
within the past few years, but at the
present time reaction is apparent
and the boom has collapsed A few
years ago everybody had the building
fever and the result is a complete
change in the appearance of the old
city and incidentally a good many
signs. For Rent" The building
venture has made Bergen an up-to-
date city, the old gradually giving
place TO the new 1t has beautiful
parks, easy access to surrounding
mountains and everything desirable
for comfort and convenience. Dur
ing the summer the military band
plays In the park at noon and evening.
As rule the people take life easy.
Clerks in offices have noon inter
mission from II to p. m. People
seem to be we'll dressed, have plenty
of leisure and evidently enjoy life. but
the general impression seems to be
that times are hard.
There has been an unusually heavy
emigration to the States this season.
This draining Of the country Of young
men is causing much CONSERVATION
and the law makers intend to devise
some way Of putting stop to emigra-
ton. This is certainly a beautiful
country. All incoming steamers have
a large number Of passenger tourists
and English and German is frequent
ly heard on the streets. There are
large number Of first-class hotels here
which seem TO be able to take good
care Of the tourist traffic. The wealth
er is cool and pleasant no flies or mos
quitoes are visible. In fact the peo-
pie here know nothing about mosqui-
toes. One can read newspaper here
at midnight without any artificial
light, but it is difficult TO sleep here
until one is used to the light OF night.
Concluded next week.