Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-04-28
AID TO SWEDEN.
Statement as to Conditions and Dispo-
sition Of Contributions.

Mr.. August Peterson vice consul for
Sweden and Norway in this city, has sent
out the following statement:
In view of the many erroneous and eX-
aggerated statements which have made
their appearance In large number of the
American papers In regard to the condition
of the people in the northern provinces Of
Sweden caused by the last years crop fail
ures and the attitude of it's government to
bring relief to the sufferers, it is important
and necessary that correct statement be
made Such a statement has just been re-
ceived from the central committee appoint
ed by the government for the purpose of
rendering all possible aid to the sufferers,
and which has had exclusive charge of the
reception and proper distribution of the
various and numerous donations from the
people at home and abroad and which
have been particularly generous from the
United States.
The chief cause of the crop failure was
owing to excessive cold rains, damages
from overflow or foundations and early
frostS This occurred chiefly in the north
ern provinces NOrr and Vesterbotten An
germanland, Jemtland, Herjehalen and in
certain parts of Dalarne and Varmland.
These parts of Sweden are not essentially
agricultural countries. their people relying
principally upon cattle stock raising.
The hay crop was totally destroyed. and
this accounts for the greatest part of suf-
mediate relief of the people in these To-
calities the government, under whose sole
control the railroads managed, ordered
free transport for all goods and products
rendered and donated, and, up to the pres
ent time, some 5000 carloads have been
sent at an average expense of from $40
to $50 per carload. 1t is quite evident that
severe suffering would have been expert
enced among these people scattered sparse
ly over a large area of what may in many
instances, be properly called wilderness,
had not the government rendered immedi
ate aid and succor. AS it was such suffer
ing and starvation as has been described
In many American papers, has never taken
place. In some of the districts affected
the government allowed some 600, 600 trees
to be cut for the use of the sufferers to
keep them warm.
The cash received by the committee up to
April amounts to about $247, $50, of which
$4,000 has been contributed by the gen.
erous-hearted native and Swedish Ameri-
cans. In addition to this, about $54 600 has
been contributed direct to the local COM
mittees in the various districts. The money
thus received has been judiciously distrib-
uted where 1t was most needed, and where
1t would do the greatest good for food and
seed. For the feeding and care of some
three thousand children of school age
proper provisions have been made, and in
this connection it must be stated that some
fourteen schools have been opened for
manual training in various branches of
manufacture, and which have been re-
ceived with the greatest interest by the peo-
pie.
Frequent inquiries are being made In re-
gard to future need Of assistance. To this
the committee answers that at this time it
is impossible to estimate the exact amount
which may be required. as this depends
upon the length of the winter, and many
other circumstances which cannot be fore
told. From reports received from the local
committees 1t Is, however. apparent that
not less than one hundred thousand dollars
will be needed.