The pioneer express. [volume] (Pembina, Dakota [N.D.]) 1883-1928, 1907-12-13
NORWAY.

Bjorn Bjornson, the son of Bjornst-
jerne Bjornson, has resigned his posi-
ton as director of the National thea.
tel, CT Christiania and will spend the
winter in Rome with his famous faith
er. He has proven himself, according
to all reports, son worthy of his
father, having labored with dis
tinguisEed ability to elevate the theat-
rical art to high plane, just as his
father has labored to elevate the liter,
cry standards CT his country. His po-
sition as director of the National
theater was an exalted one and has
been held in the past by his father,
Henrik Ibsen and other great men.
Perhaps none is in better position to
champion high artistic ideals than the
director of that theater, just as in the
United States no one can do more in
raising the standard of art-music and
the drama-than the directors of the
great theaters of New York-the thea.
tors that set the pace for the rest of
The country.
Like Nicholson, Bjorn Bjornson re-
signed his position because of i'll
health, and as in the case of the great
statesman, the people of Norway are
earnestly hoping for his speedy recov-
cry, as he is one OF the men that his
| fatherland needs. II restored to health
by next summer it is probable that he
will visit the United States and make
lecture tour among his countrymen
on this side or the Atlantic.
A most interesting dispatch from
Christiania deals as follows with the
tourist traffic of Norway:
Since Prof. Yngvar Nielsen, in 1886,
made an estimate of the money spent
annually in Norway by foreign tour
lists, no such reports have been pre-
pared until few days ago, when the
| director for the Tourist Traffic associa-
ton sent out a report covering 1906.
Prof. Nielsen, for 1856, estimated the
number of visitors at $4,000, who spent
100000 kroner. In 1906 the number
was 34,350, and the money more than
100000 kroner ($3,216,000).
"This sum is, in the report, divided
into several groups. Norwegian steam
ers crossing the North sea received rs
their share Of the sum about 100000
kroner for passage and board. For
hotel accommodation and travelling in
the country some 100000 kroner
were used.
"The large foreign tourist steamers
('foating hotels as they are called)
and private pleasure yachts brought
in about 100000 kroner. Fourteen of
these floating hotels visited the coun-
try during the year. OF these six were
British, five German, one Danish, one
French and one Dutch. Together these
fourteen steamers made fifty-one trips
and brought about $500 passengers.
The chief purchases made by such
ships consists of fresh meat, fresh fish,
canned goods, fresh fruit and berries
and vegetables. Such purchases are
estimated at 1000 kroner for each
ship or 100000 kroner in all, whereto
must be added about 100000 kroner
for coal. The purchases made ashore
by the passengers of such steamers
are estimated at 100000 kroner, and
their trips across the country and
minor excursions to some $4,000
kroner. For the privilege to hunt and
fish foreigners paid during the year
about 100000 kroner, and for other
purchases spent some one and a half
million kroner The Norwegian mail
and telegraph made $4,000 kroner on
the visitors. The largest portion of
the money is, of course, taken in dur
ing the summer season. Only some
100000 kroner is credited to the win
ter season.
GAS to nationality the British is still
leading, with the Germans as a good
second. Their numbers were 1900
and $500 respectively. Every third
tourist was an Englishman, the report
says
Divided according to occupations
there were 1870 in public service of
their respective countries, 1,24O law
yers. $40 clergymen, $500 professors
and teachers, 1855 physicians, 1925
military officers, 1850 artists and mu-
sicians, 1870 large manufacturers,
2,470 industrial managers, architects.
engineers, etc., 5.27O merchants, 4.240
people of independent means Coupon
cutters), 1920 students, etc.
For the year 1907 no report has
been published ss. yet. but despite the
nasty summer, they all claim that the
results Of this years tourist traffic are
sure not to be below, rather above,
these Of 1906"
The search for gold continues in
Finnmarken, and the government is
lending helping band. But, while the
prospects are brighter than they were
last year. no rich ore has yet been
found.
The Nicholson fund.-" named in
honor Of the former minister. about
which wrote briefly last week, con.
a