Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1906-06-22
MONEY FROM H SEA
WEED BRINGS PROSPERITY TO
DISTRICTS OF NORWAY.
Steady Demand for Natural Product
Has RevolutIe nlzed Conditions In
Provinces Along the Coast Of the
Northon Kingdom.

Along the shores OF Joderen, on the
southwest coast of Norway, the sea.
weed grows in veritable forests; not
the common grass variety, but actual
trees from five TO six feet in height,
with stems like ropes and leaves as
tough as leather. 1t begins L Iprout
IN March and April, and .iually
covers the ocean bed with u GGnse, i'm.
renetrable brush.
In the fall the stems become tender.
the roots release their s%uctionlike grip
on the rocky bottom. and the autumn
winds wash 1t ashore in such great
quantities that the weed looks like q
huge brown wall along the entire
coast.
The fall crop is of comparatively
small value. The only use that can
be made of II is for fartilizing pur.
poses, because II Is only In the spring
that It can be successfully burned.
and at this time there is such Il de-.
mand for it that every stalk and Leaf
Is gathered as II it were pure coin.
The weed burning season is the
busiest OF the year and every member
OF the household Is drafted to assist
in gathering, drying and burning. At
the close OF each clear day the whole
coast seems to be aflame from the
thousands of bonfires that are kept
burning far into the night. This Is
one OF the many natural resources
that Is UNEXPECTEDLY developed in Nor.
way, and no ono ever dreamed twenty
| IgnlG ngn thnt thfg gnnnnfp utN- vrnrtl.
less weed would in 4 few years. as Il
source of income. surpass the fisher
les, which have been the mainstay OF
the people for ages, or rival hat OF
agriculture in one of the leading aErl.
cultural districts in Norway. Yet such
Is h case to-day, and those who arc
fortunate enough to own land abut
ting the seashOre can reap the mos,
profitable crop OF the year. Owners OF
farms located where the weed seems
to have n prediction TO drift can
burn as much as three thousand kilos
Il ear.
During this time the carrying capac
ity of the %StavanGcr and Joderen rail
way is taxed to the utmost, rs many
tram loads 4 day. collected ut differ
'Ab oNh'iOiSS W silpptN u SNdNuIItE
whence from two to three shiploads 4
week are sent to Great Britain.
The subsequent uses and treatment
Of the ashes are yelled in scientific
mystery, and the good people Of 10
deren are not concerned about 1t as
long rs there Is an increasing demand
and the English agents at StavanGcl
are willing to pay good prices 70,
their wares. These ashes contain
many valuable chemical properties
emo p which iodine is the most i'm
portaht.
This relatively large supply o
money mas wrought great changes IL
the economic conditions OF tho dis
trict. Old debts have been paid off
small farms that were Isolated ant
surrounded by unproductiye land have
Lad their boundaries extended by Tho
draining of marshes and clearing o.
rocky wastes, and this very Land
which has been considered worthless
and unfit for cultivation, has by this
evolution become productive.
Not o than twenty years age
there was not Il moving machine In
the entire district. while now thcr;
are mowers, hayrakc3, harrows ant
other modern machinery on ncarl!
every farm.