Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1906-11-22
Recent Occurrences of interest
in Sweden, Norway and
Denmark.
NATIONAL DEBT OF SWEDEN
Figures Show That the Assets Are
Far in Excess OF tho
Liabilities.
SWEDEN.
Stockholm.

II the economical position Of a
try Is to be Judged by the condition
Of state finances, then Sweden occu-
pies, in this respect a very prominent
place among nations at the present
time. Sweden was, for a very long
time. the only country in Europe
without a national debt, but in the
middle of the last century large loans
were taken up for the purpose OF con-
structing the state railways and since
then the country has on other oc-
casions found 1t suitable to borrow.
The revenue from the railways has en-
abled the nation, however, to pay off
tracted. A great part of the borrowed
money has been employed for the pur-
pose Of granting loans to private rail
ways or for opening new districts for
cultivation. At the close Of 1904 the
national debt of Sweden amounted to
RS4 .000.0O0 crowns. that Is 10 crowns
per capita Of the entire population,
while the corresponding figures for the
whole Of Europe show that the debt
per capita exceeds 200 crowns. AS
the value Of the national funds, to-
gether with the estimated worth Of the
railways and their rolling material Is
estimated at about 70O,0O 700 rowns
irrespective Of national estates, forest
and realized real property to a value
OF O,0O0,OOO crowns, 1t will be seen
that the national assets are far In ex-
cess of the debts.
Recent statistics show that trade
unions have gained much ground in
Sweden during the last few decades.
For 1905, the total number Of members
of cooperative societies was estimated
at 100000 and the capital at their dis
position at about 3.50O,000 rowns The
turnover amounted to at least 34.00O.-
0cO crowns. These societies have most
ly the form Of cooperative stores.
With respect to trade unions, which
found footing in Sweden first in the
middle of the eighties, it may be men
toned that of about 100000 working
mon engaged in mining and other in
dustries about $4,000 are members of
organized trade unions, these unions
being for the most part united after
their several trades, into larger socie-
ties-natiopal trade alliances-em-
bracing the whole country. These al
liapces again are Joined into one great
land organization. The employers on
their side have. during the last few
years also organized themselves into
several associations and unions with
varying numbers of members. and by
means OF negotiations between en-
ployers and workmen there Is being
gradually created a voluntary sub
commission to the DEGREES Of non-of-
fetal arbitrators, whrein collective
agreement (scale Of wage agreement)
Is coming more and more into use.
The countries with which Sweden
carries on most Of her trade are Great
Britain. Germany and Denmark. The
first named country takes from Swe-
den a little more than It receives from
1t Gt Is about 149.OOO.OO0 crowns each
way). the chief articles of exchange
being coal. timber and butter. Ger
many, on the other hand, send us con-
siderably more than 1t receives, the
figures being 222, 100000 and 72.OOO.-
OC0 crowns respectively. but a lot Of
iron ore COED to Germany via Neither
land harbors. In addition to iron ore.
great quantities o. timber, building
stone and bar iron are exported to
Germany. from which country We lm-
port articles Of general consumption,
raw goods and Industrial articles Of al
most every kind The balance Of trade
with the other countries Of western
Europe and with Africa II considerably
In favor Of Sweden, while the trade
with Asia and America consists al
most entirely Of import. The ex-
ports to Norway and Finland are In
ices Of the imports. the opposite be-
ing the case with the Danish and Rus
sian trade.
Rays q Swedish church review re-