Morris tribune., 1909-07-10
SWEDEN.

Says q Stockholm correspondent:
The weather conditions are alarming
in Sweden at present. At any rate
they have. caused great deal of un-
easness among the farmers generally.
Even in the southernmost part of the
country, where weather conditions are
as rule pretty stable, the grain is
expected to give very small returns.
In Kristianstads "lan" the prospects
are pretty fair for an average crop,
but in Blekinge and Halland nothing
short of fine summer from now on
with the most favorable weather con-
ditions, can insure even fair crops. In
Smaland the oats are not expected to
mature on the low ground and in Bo-
hus 'lan" the cold weather has injured
the rye very badly. Gottland may
have good crops, excepting rye and
sugar beets. The latter cereals will
be meager. In Sodermanland the rye
is not expected to ripen early enough
to be used for seed next fall, and this
means that there will be an irrepara-
BILE loss in that section. In Uppland
the prospects for crop are very poor
indeed. Varmland may show up with
fair crop, but it is doubtful. In
Dalarne the spring grain and the pota-
toes look very poor this season, but
the farmers have not lost all hope
and are willing to make the best of
the situation. In Vasterbotten there
is fair chance and in LappmarkeL
the prospects for any crop at all look
exceedingly dark. So taken right
through the crop prospects for the sea-
son throughout Sweden are not at all
favorable and there will be many of
the farmers who will be in straight
ened circumstances as a result of this
next winter.
A recent telegram from Stockholm
states that the Swedish consul in New
York warns his countrymen from COM
ing to America because there are hard
times all over the states. Undoubted-
ly the consul means we'll enough for
his own country, but when he states,
if it is true what the telegram says,
that times are so hard in America, it
OSSuAS W tllOL uS lS uOI
very closely to the actual facts of the
matter and they appear to be that
times are rather good in this country
at present. At least they have been
infinitely worse.
Plans are under way for the electri-
/ fication of the more important state
railways of Sweden. 1t is expected
that the line running from Kiruma, in
the iron fields of Lapland, to the Nor
way boundary will be the first to
change from steam to electricity. The
change is made necessary by the in
crease of traffic over the line, which
can be handled only by doubling the
tracks if steam propelsion be still ad-
hered to. 1t is believed that electrifi-
cation would be much more economi-
cal than the construction of double
tracks.
When King Oscar and Queen Sofia
celebrated their golden wedding ami
versary the city council of Stockholm
appropriated 100000 crowns for
home for the aged. 1t has now been
decided that the home be erected out
at Sabbatsberg at a cost of 100000
crowns. Thus 1t will be seen that it
will cost 100000 crowns more than
was expected and the city council has
now set about to raise another 100000
crowns.
A Stockholm dispatch tells us that
the Swede who shot and killed Major
General Beckman, chief of the coast ar
tillery, June q, shot himself the fol-
lowing day. The shooting of General
Beckman created shock in military
circles, as the general was very prom.
inent and highly respected officer.
The leading man in the Salvation
Army in Sweden, Booth-Hellberg, died
June while returning to Stockholm
from an extensive journey in Germany,
Through his death the Salvation Army
in Sweden has lost one of its most ef-
fcient leaders.
Stockholm is going to have a num-
Der of barber shops after this which
are going to operate on the co-opera-
tive order. This is an entirely new
stunt in Stockholm and everybody is
interested in seeing how the plan is 60
ing to pan out.
The Swedish government has pur-
chased the telephone lines east of
Fredrikshald, Norway, which until
now have been owned by the Nor
wegian government. They extend
quite distance on the Swedish side
Of Ide ford.
The new army balloon arrived from
Headinger's factory in Germany the
other day and will immediately be
placed at the disposal of the south
ern army, where it will be used in the
army maneuvers during next month.
The "Drott," the royal yacht, which
was King Oscars fa.orite boat. is now
undergoing a thorough renovation It
will, when completed, be sent to Stet-