Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1908-09-02

Tells OF TRIP
TO OLD SWEDEN
J. ]. Ekander Tells Of The I'M
pressions Received on Visit
10 Distant fatherland.
j. ]. Ekander and John Swan re-
turned home last Wednesday even
ing from their trip abroad. They
had been gone since April II, and
altho they enjoyed their travels.
they were both heartily glad to get
back home. When seen at his
home last Friday. Mr.. Ekander was
in the best of spirits. and he readi-
ly consented to an interview.
YES he said, I'VE had a most
enjoyable trip. We saw the sights
in Chicago and at Niagara Falls on
our way to the coast. and on April
% we embarked on the Mauretania,
the monster Cunard liner and a sis
ter ship to the Lusitania, on which
we returned. After three days.
stay in England, we left for Den
mark by way of Hamburg, and
from Copenhagen we continued to
Malm0, Sweden. From there
went to H0rby, my old home. l
hadn't seen the place for about Is
years and it had changed so much
that l had to ask my way around.
The tailor worked for had gone
into the hotel business and the shop
had been transformed into meat
market. The town has about 5000
inhabitants and they find employ
ment in the various factories and
mills located there.
"From Horny l went to Oster-
sund, by way of Stockholm. Ihir.
ty miles from Ostersund, at HER.
pen, l visited the two copper mines
the investigation of which was a
part of my plans in going abroad.
The mines have been lying idle for
about 10 years on account of a lack
of capital. They comprise about
600 acres and are located in the
midst of a rich mining country
I AIN going to Duluth next week tc
report to the Steel Trust what
found out about the property, as
they desired me to investigate il
for them. The entire property car
be bought for about $257 900, and
hold an option on it for six months.
While in this part of the country,
climbed to the tops of Drummer
and Vestfjallet, and enjoyed the
novel experience of taking part ir
a real SNOWFALL fight on the 18th Of
July. The coffee house located al
the top of the latter place is favo'
rite with tourists, from 10 to lon
visiting it everyday. Among those
registered there, found number
of Minneapolis people.
| lone of the most interesting
places l visited was the town Of
Koruna, located in the rich iror
ore district about 500 miles north
of Ostersund. Altho only eight
|years old, the town has popula
tion of 5000. Sixteen ore trains
leave this district every day fol
neighboring seaports, from which
the ore is shipped to England. An
other interesting place is the north
erly town Of Trondhjem, Norway
On Aug. IL, we left G0teborg
ready and willing to return to tn
. best country in the world. TIL
North Sea was smooth as glass go
ing over, but on the return trip i
was simply awful
Being asked what he thought O
the railroads of Sweden as com
, pared with those of the Unite,
States, he said: ''They are n
, doubt inferior both in regard t.
, service as we'll as equipment
+ There is a noticeable difference
tho, between the lines owned an
operated by the government an
those of private companies, the lat
7 ter having better rolling stock an
: making more of an effort to accom-
S modate their passengers. Blu
when it comes to rates and sto]
= over privileges, they are ahead O
us by long ways. The entir
Y distance between Horny and Oster
sund, about 700 miles, by way O
Stockholm, can be travelled at
cost of less than ten dollars. Yo1
may stop over anywhere along tn
way, as many places as you like
All that is necessary for you to d
! is to present your ticket to the sta
ton agent and have it stamped.
Talking about roads in Sweden
: they have learnt the secret of max
0 ing good roads. Wherever you g
y you will find the roads hard, smoot
and we'll kept. Each farmer ha
a certain portion Of the road t
n look after, and if he is found neg
Y ligent in any way he is fined. Tn
e roads are all free; no toll is re