The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1905-09-14
SWEDEN AND NORWAY.

INTERESTING STATISTICS RE.
GARDlNG RECENTLY SEPAR.
ATED NATIONS.
The Combined Population Practically
the Same as That of State of New
York-Agricu!ture the Mainstay in
eweden-The Fisheries Are as I'm.
portant as Farming in Norway.
Some interesting information con.
cerning Sweden and Norway has just
been compiled by the Bureau Of Sta
tistics, Washington. 1t is shown that,
Notwithstanding less favorable natu-
raj conditions, such as the poverty
Of the soil, about IS percent of which
is unproductiye, and a rigorous eli
mate in the larger part of the coun-
try, also a relatively larger emigra-
ton, the population in Norway in
creases faster than that of Sweden.
TAus, the population of Sweden in
creased between 1898 and 1903 from
4,S24,150 to 5,231,291, or 50 percent,
while that of Norway grew from q
OS2,1C0 to 2,2S3,525, or 1875 percent
in the same period.
The combined population of Sweden
and Norway is 7,484,301, practically
the same as that Of the State of New
York. The area of Sweden is about
10 percent more than that of Norway,
the territorial extent of the two coun-
tries being 172,S76 square miles and
124,130 square miles, respectively.
If the average population for the
period 1S93-1903-5, ,043, 700 for Sweden
and 2,165, 800 for Norway-be compared
with the corresponding average emf
grafton fgures-23,610 for Sweden and
1908 for Ncrway-the rate Of emigra-
tion appears higher for Norway than
for Sweden, 80 per thousand. as
against ~ per thousand. During the
decade 1S93-1902, of the emlsran;s
from Sweden who left their country
over so percent stated as their destina-
tion the United States, while OF l24,-
$50 Norwegians who left their native
country about 81 percent, at the port
of embarkation, indicated this country
as their future home.
Of the total estimated population CT
Sweden il 1909 only 22.3 percent ap-
pear under the head Of urban dwellers,
while of the total population of Nor
way, according to the 1900 census, 2S.S
percent are returned as living in ur-
ban settlements.
The difference in the industrial char
acter Of the population is shown, furth-
.ermore. by the fact that In Sweden
the mainstay of the population is still
agriculture, with it's cosnate branches,
while in Norway the Importance CT
agriculture is about the same as that
Of the fisheries, each of which indus
tries, according to official estimates,
furnishes an annual product Of about
SIS, 5,O00, coo, or about 10 percent Of the
annual national income. The average
value of the principal cereal produc-
tions in Sweden for the years 1S98-19O2
is stated at s65,3sS, 900, while the av-
erage value Of Norwegian cereal crops
for 1S96-1900 was estimated at S9,-
$4,000 only. This. as we'll as the rela-
tive absence Of minerals of industrial
Importance, involves much greater
dependence on the part of Norway on
imported breadstuus and raw mate
rials, and results, as further conse-
quence, in a tariff policy distinct from
that of the sister nation. The imports
of breadstuffs, including -four, during
the calendar year 1903 into Sweden
amounted in value to 1881, 900, and
to SIS, ,229 900 into Norway.
The only common industry Of impor-
tance, especially for the foreign trade,
is numbering, inasmuch as both coun-
tries abound in forests, particularly
spruce and pine, both Of which varie-
ties find ready sales in British and
Continental markets. OF the. total
domestic exports from the two coun-
tries, the exports cf lumber and tim
Der and manufactures thereof, such as
wood pulp and matches, constituted
SIT percent in the case Of Sweden and
40.4 percent in the case Of Norway.
The mining and metal industry,
which is an important source of ma
tional wealth in Sweden, giving en-
ployment to 30,73l persons in 1903, has
but little Importance in the national
economy of Norway.
On the other hand, the earnings Of
the Norwegian merchant marine, esre-
cially of vessels engaged in the carry
ing trade between foreign ports, con-
stitute a large portion Of the national
revenue, and serve to Offset in part
the unfavorable trade balance. Nor
ways merchant marine is fourth in
size among the merchant marines OF
the world, being exceeded only by
those of the United Kingdom, the
United States and Germany. It's total
tonnage is nearly 100000 tons, as
against $4,000 tons for Sweden. Itsto-
ta1 earninoS in 1902 were 800 700 0G0