Pierre weekly free press. (Pierre, S.D.) 1889-19??, 1907-11-14
in The SCANDINAVIAN NORTH
Gleanings of Important News Of NorDay, Sveden
and Denmark, with Occasional Comments.
SWEDEN.
By MARTIN W. oDLANp.

The production of gold in Sweden
seems to have been reduced to practi.
cally nothing, amounting to only 20
Kilograms, worth $4,000 crowns, during
the past year. The entire production
comes from the Falun copper works.
The king and queen recently dedi-
Gated "Solhemmet," the Sophia Sis
ters' home for the aged. The home
has thirty rooms and large assembly
hall. 1t was erected at an expense OF
100000 crowns, and is an institution OF
which Stockholm is proud.
The riksdag has asked the govern
ment to organize a state department
for commerce, industry and navigation,
and another for sociological matters.
The request is looked upon as fresh
illustration of Sweden's progressive
energy under a separate political re-
CINE.
The following dispatch from Stock.
holm will be interesting to Swedish
Americans:
upon the invitation of DR.. W. P.
Wilson, director of the Philadelphia
commercial museum, Sweden will ar.
range a permanent industrial exhibit
ton in the museum. A special organi.i
cation has been formed by the largest
exporting firms to take charge of the
project. Herman Lagercrantz, Swed-
ish minister to the United States, has
written to the foreign department.
strongly recommending the plan for
government support"
The Swedish minister, Mr.. Lager
crantz, is doubtless largely responsible
for this important industrial step on
the part Of his country. Ever since his
appointment he has been very active in
bringing about a closer commercial re-
lationship between his country and
the United States, and has done much
to stir up Sweden to go in quest OF
American business.
The admiral of the Swedish navy
has proposed to the commission of de-
tense of the government that the fleet
of warships be greatly increased, and
the commission Is now at work on his
proposition. This proposition of in
creasing the naval strength Of Sweden.
it may be said, is largely result Of
the dissolution of the union with Nor
way. Sweden feels insecure with her
present naval strength. She is slight
! ly suspicious of her little sister king
dom and very suspicious-yes afraid
| of the intentions Of Russia. I have al
ready told about the anxiety awakened
| by the mysterious visit to the coast
town, Lulea, of Russian torpedo boat,
| which, it was feared, came to spy on
! Sweden's defenses. Sweden has not
| forgotten what happened to Finland.
and is not likely to forget
Hence, good deal of attention has
been devoted by the Swedish govern
nlent to the. question of her navy dur
| ing the past two years, and the admir-
ais big plans are taken seriously, not
| only by the commission of defense, but
also by the people.
| The admiral proposes the addition Of
no less than four first-class armor-clad
battleships, six second-class armor-clad
battleships, four torpedo cruisers, two
cruisers, twenty-four first-class torpedo
boats, and twenty submarine boats
an astonishing list, indeed! Even Eng
| land Or the United States, with all
their resources, would stand aghast at
proposition to build so formidable an
array.
| And no less than half of these should
be provided within the next six years,
! and the new type of battleships pro-
posed are to cost 13,5OO,0O0 crowns
each, as against 100000 crowns, the
[ cost of the largest battleships Sweden
now has In brief, the proposed add.
tons to the navy for the next six years
call for an expenditure Of 100000
| crowns.