Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1907-07-20
KING OSCAR
SAYS SWEDEN
NEEDS SONS
RULER SENDS APPEAL TO FOR
MER SUBJECTS IN AMERICA TO
RETURN - SAYS COUNTRY
FEELS THEIR LOSS

Chicago, July 1s.-King Oscar is
anxious to secure the return to Swed-
err Of the hundreds of thousands Of
Swedes who have emigrated to Amer
lea, and has begun an investigation to
determine what We're, the conditions
which prompted his people to leave
the fatherland ana what would be nec-
essary for Sweden to do to induce
them to return.
This Investigation Is part of the
Industrial awakening which is now on
in Sweden, and the recent change in
the post Of the Swedish minister to the
United States was made with view
to furthering the return of Swedish
Americans to their fatherland.
Mr.. Lagercrantz, the new minister
was charged to open q bureau in the
United states through which a Swed-
;sll-American desiring to return might
secure Information as to- the condi-
tions IN his trade in Sweden and the
probabilities of his prospecting there.
Consul Eknnan, who died recently in
to the bureau which Mr.. Lagercrantz
Is ~ establish.
Swodes Here Asked to Assist.
Tie editors of Swedish newspaper,
aud Swedish ministers in Chicago
yesterday received from the emigra
ton inyeS tigation committee of Stock
holm a circular calling on them to as
certain from each of as many as pos
sible Of their Swedish American read
ers and practitioners:
The chief causes Of his emigration
from Sweden.
His present condition and earning
power.
Whether he is employed in agricul-
tural. mechanical or other pursuits, OF
as an urskilled laborer.
When and how often he has visited
Swedish, and his family connections III
Sweden and in the United States ane
In what trades he has been employs
II this country.
Editors of Swedish newspapers are
asked by the royal Swedish statistic
| department to publish this request 70,
Information at intervals. and to sent
all data to the Royal Swedish con.
| sulate, II State street, New York City
refora Oct. /.
Want History Of Immigrants.
| The circular says in part:
| ut would be best If the informa
ton requested were sent in the form
of a narrative Of personal experience
and containing information as Il
where and when the writer was borr
in Sweden, where he grew up as {
| child, when he was confirmed and al
his personal history UP to the time HI
left Sweden; in what year he emf
grated to America, when he again
visited Sweden, his present family re
lations In Sweden and In America, etc
sic should also tell at what trade
| he worked in Sweden and at what h
has been employed in America, ant
| should compare his economical condi
ton in America with his condition il
Sweden.
IF the person reporting came iron
4 a farming community he should Civ
information In regard to the economi
conditions of his home district, hoy
many acres of land he owned, If any
in Sweden, whether the income Of hi
farm was sufficient to support a fam
I lily, to whom the farm will descend p
Inheritance, etc. He should also te
4 what difficulties he encountered, l
any, in securing his own home i
Sweden and In securing farm labor.
Would Improve Conditions at Home
: "If the informant came from a cit
J or village in Sweden, he should Civ
information with reference to econon,
| lie conditions in that city or villag
his fathers trade and particulars !
regard to conditions in his home an
in his trade in his home city.
The committee believes the princi
pal causes for emigration from Swede
are the lack of sufficient opportunit
for work and the difficulty of reachin
a position of independence, and til
) consequent difficulties placed in tn
: way of marriage and the ESTABLISH
ment of home.
, 1T Is for the purpose of removir
these obstacles and Of improving cor
! ditions in sweden that the emigratie
! investigation committee has been Oh
ganized.''
! Sweden Needs Mechanics Badly.
I The committee in charge of the il
i vestigation Is composed of 100 promir
! ent Swedes, including many membe
of parliament and the provincial gov
ernors.
: Sweden is said to desire particular
II the return of skilled mechanics,
which tharA ia great scarcity