Morris tribune. [volume] (Morris, Minn.) 1880-2000, 1906-11-24
Eecent Occurrences of interest
in Sweden, Norway and
Denmark.
NATIONAL DEBT OF SWEDEN
Figures Show That the Assets Are
Far in Excess of the
Liabilities.
SWEDEN.
Stockholm.

IF state finances, then Sweden occu-
pies, in this respect very prominent
place among nations at the present
time. Sweden was, for a very long
time, the only country in Europe
without national debt, but i'll 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 it suitable to borrow.
The revenue from the railways has en-
abled the nation, however, to pay off
considerable part Of the debts con
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
3S4 DOC, 900 crowns. that is 70 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-
J
railways and their rolling material is
estimated at about 7OO0O0.0O0 crowns,
irrespective of national estates, forest
and realized real property to value
Of 100000. 900 crowns it 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 100000 crowns. The
| turnover amounted to at least 81 ,OOO.-
| 0CG crowns These societies have most
! ~ 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 30l, 600 working
men engaged in mining and other in
| dustries about 10000 are members of
organized trade unions. these unions
being for the most part united after
their several trades. into larger socie-
! tieS-na tiOnal trade alliances-em-
bracing the whole country. These al
liances again are joined into one great
| land organization. The employers on
their side have. during the last few
several associations and unions with
varying numbers of members. and by
means of negotiations between en-
pIoyers and Workmen there is being
| gradually created voluntary sub
/ commission to the DEGREES of nOn-Of-
! fetal arbitra tors. whrein collective
agreement (scale Of wage agreement
is coming more and more into use.
The countries with which Sweden
carries OH 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
! Ii lit is about 149.ONO.0OO 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 it receives. the
| figures being 222.0C0N0 and 12000,-
! 0CO crowns respectively but a lot of
iron ore goes 10 Germany via Neither
land harbors. In addition to iron ore.
great quantities of timber building
stone and bar iron are exported to
Germany. from which country We i'm
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 is 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
excess of the imports. the opposite be-
Inc the ease with the Danish and Rus
sian trade.
Says a Swedish church review re-
garding church work in Finland:
About the year 1885. Rev. 2. 3.
Carlson went from Sweden to Fin
land and began work in the city of
HelsingforS as a Methodist Episcopal
minister Since then three other
Methodists have successfully come
from Sweden and labored for longer
GF SIIOfteI ltuit III LidI city. l. lie
work has progressed to such an ex-
tent that on Aug. 20. the Methodist
Episcopal congregation was able to
lay the corner stone for a church
edifice of its own. The material use1
for the new building will be costly
granite. 1t vii! have seating ca
pacity of about 400 persons. The con-
gregation numbers in all 200 mem
bers.
A reception was rendered Holger
Drachn>ann. the Danish poet and play
wright. on the evening of Oct. %. After
the reception an elaborate dinner was
served at Grand Hotel, in which 800
guests members of Stockholm's elite
and literary circies-participated Di-
rector Ranft was the master of cere-
monies.
Heavy rains were frequent in the
ca ital last month. Not in many years
has such tremendous downpour Wis
tied the city as that which lasted
without cessation last month. The