The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1909-12-02

Interesting News from Sweden,
Norway and Denmark.
MANY FARMS ARE ABANDONED

For Some Reason or Other Agricu'.
ture Seems To Be On the Decline
in Sweden-TweIve Thousand Idle
Farms in Norrland and Dalarne-
Government Authorities Alarmed ov-
er the Situation-Things Are Differ.
ent in Skane.
SWEDEN.
It is noticeable fact that agricul-
tural pursuits seem to be on the de-
cline in Sweden Just where the trouble
lies, is difficult to say, but certain it
is, that there is something radically
wrong somewhere. During the past
few decades not less than 10000
farms have been abandoned up in Norr-
land and Dalarne. It seems, too, that
the same thing has taken place in 9TH
er parts of the country, in fact aban.
dOned farms are a common sight all
over the country. In 1870 more than
70 per cent of the entire Swedish pop
ulation were engaged in agriculture,
such as stock raising and general farm.
ing. Meanwhile the percentage of those
engaged in industrial pursuits in
creased from Is to 29 per cent and
those engaged in commercial pursuits
from to II per cent. During the
years 1S71-1S75 Sweden exported grain
to foreign countries for about $1,000.
600 year, and during the years of
1S86-1S90, she imported grain for about
100000 worth year and she is at
the present time importing more grain
than ever. This fact is alarming the
government authorities in no small de-
gree, and as emigration is receiving a
fresh impetus from labor troubles, ETC.,
they are now becoming doubly appre-
hensive. It seems that the section IN
Sweden which takes care of itself best
SO far as agricultural pursuits are con-
cerned is Skane. About three thou
sand cars are engaged every hour Of
the day and night in carrying beets
from the country to the sugar fac
tories. The average weight of a load
of beets is from seven to eight tons.
All cars that can be spared in Sweden
have been sent to Skane for the "beet
campaign as it is popularity called
down there,
There is no country in the world
which has a better set of roads than
Sweden. At the end of the year 1896
Sweden had $3.50 kilometers of coun-
try roads, all in very good shape In
the northern section of the kingdom
the mileage was only about $40 kilo-
meters hundred square kilometers,
while in the southern part the cor
responding figure amounted to thirty
two kilometers a square kilomete7.
Since 1910 the state has, to an ever
increasing extent, contributed towards
keeping the roads in good condition.
In that year state appropriation OF
$4,000 was made for new roads and
for general road repairs. These ap-
preparations have been continually in
creased until in the year 1900 an
amount of $4,000 was granted for
that purpose. By these means a
length of road of about 5000 miles has
been constructed or improved since
1910. The construction of new roads
has of late chiefly been carried on in
the north of Sweden. During the years
1871 and 1900 state appropriations of
about 100000 crowns were granted
for the construction of new highways
and the Improvement of the old ones,
amounting to more than $S,64O,O0o
The condition of the roads has been
greatly improved of late years and are
in splendid condition, especially in the
northern section of the country.
An exchange says: "Evidently emf
grafton from Sweden and Norway has
not ceased. From Jan. 8 to Sept. =
not less than 1911 Swedes have lett
their homes for America From port
OF Bergen, Norway, no less than 2,63G
emigrated to the United States and
Canada, from January to October
OF the present year. Nearly all Of
these came from that city or that
vicinity. During the same time of the
year 1908, the number was only 1862.
SWedish-Americans are sending
large amounts of money to friends and
relatives in the homeland. Last year
there were sent from the United
States 1922 money orders, repre-
sentlng sum amounting in Swc-
dish money to not less than 1885,
541 crowns. Thus it is that the
hand of friendship is extended
over the Atlantic and little swc-
den has more friends in America than
on any other place on earth.
There is an appalling number of con-
sumptives in Stockholm. Last year
there were not less than 844 persons
who died from consumption and this
number it appears is a great increase
over that of former years. From in
fammation fthe lungs there were SOC
victims and from cancer 1873. The
death rate of illegitimate children is
also increasing very rapidly.
A London paper states that it be-
lleves that the French author Anatole
France will this year be awarded the
Nobel Literary prize and expresses its
satisfaction over the choice. Thomas
T. 4