Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1903-02-07
Recent Occurrences Of Interest
in Sweden. Norway and
Denmark.
THE FAMINE IN NORTH SWEDEN
Desperate Fight Against Starvaton
Continues-King Oscars illness
Causes Much Concern.
SWEDEN.
Stockholm.


North Sweden's great need and Ter
desperate tight against munger con-
tinues. One great trouble is that
many of the stricken districts are from
100 to $50 miles distant from the rail
way. Owing to inadequate railwa y
transportatioEs the supplies are al
ready exhausted and the people I'D
these districts are in most deplorable
condition. Fodder for the cattle is
just as urgent, as these are the main
stay of Norrlands economic life If
the animals could have been decently
fed they would have been capable Of
producing enough to sustain the peas
ants, but in most instance the beasts
have already been slaughtered and
eaten. In conjunction with the ravages
OF famine caused by foods and trOsts,
Norrland has been struck by cOIu.
plete industrial paralysis. 1'imber-cut
ting, which normally affords a liveli
hood for thousands of persons not eu
ployed in farming, is now at a perfect
standStill or done for starvation
wages, averaging in many cases less
than what is actually required for the
daily support Of the men and horses
engaged. The timber companies, or
rather the so-called timber barons,"
excuse the payment of such pittances
on the plea that the market price Of
lumber does not warrant anything bet
hl1t ind cicf
that the timber baroDS'' are actuated
by purely cold blooded motives In
spite of this the sufferers from hunger
are showing fine pluck in the face of
distress. They receive no relief unless
it is worked for. either by improving
the public roadways or lettering con-
ditions on their own property in antici-
patton of the return of the fair wealth.
er day.
There is lively interest beginning to
manifest itself in all parts of the Swe-
dish financial and commercial world
and significant is the statement of Mr.
Wallenberg. director of Stockholm's
bank, and one of the leading financiers
of Sweden. Mr.. Wallenberg says in
part: THE trust system is epidemic
1t has swept along from the Pacific to
the Atlantic and now it has come to
invade Sweden. Even in Sweden a
timber trust has lately been formed
1t is the only one in Sweden and is
called the Nordiska Travaro Bolaget,
and it's board of directors has it's seat
in Stockholm There is also much talk
of forming a steel trust. but nothing
definite has yet been accomplished in
this direction. When the trust cpl
demic once crosses the Atlantic and
spreads itself generally throughout Eu-
rope, Sweden, however, will be the last
country to be greatly affected by it.
because the royal Swedish envy will
doubtless make it almost impossible
for trusts to be formed here to any
great extent But even if multitude
of powerful trusts would cripple the
power of the trade associations, we are
sure to get protection from the govern.
ment."
King Oscar has been stricken with
a weakening attack of illness and his
closely guarded circles where the full
truth is known. No official informa-
ton has been received from Stockholm
as to the exact condition of his males
ty, but there is grave fear that the aged
and popular monarch will never rise
country has therefore been intrusted
to the crown prince Gustaf, who as
sumed the duties of the regency of the
on Jan. q. The crown
prince Gustaf has already acted as re-
gent in the Temporary resignation by
his father of the reins of power. King
Oscar was seriously i'll for some months
at the end CT 1900, suffering from
paralysis, and the crown prince, who
is A years old, was then duly appoint
ed regent. acting in that capacity until
King Oscar resumed the sovereignty
on his birthday, Jan. p, 1901
After long disappearance herring
shoals are returning to the Swedish
coast On. Jan, 20 it was reported that
shoals of herring are standing thick
outside the west coast of Sweden. af.
fording a rich harvest to the fishing
These fish have not
been seen for generation. The infu-
ences that govern their migrations still
belong to natures greatest mysteries.
During the middle ages the herring
fisheries Of Sweden produced great
wealth, but the fish disappeared for
three centuries, reappearing at the end
Of the eighteenth century. and after
another interval of absence returning
about the middle of the nineteenth
century.