Morris tribune., 1909-12-03
SWEDEN.

tural pursuits seem to be on the de-
cline in Sweden Just where the trouble
lies. is difficult to say, but certain it
Ia. 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. 1t seems, too, that
the same thing has taken place in 9th.
er parts of the country, in fact aban-
doned farms are common sight all
over the country. In 1870 more than
72 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 20 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 a year, and during the years OF
1886-1S90, she imported grain for about
100000 worth a 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
fresh impetus from labor troubles, etc..
they are now becoming doubly appre-
hensive. 1t 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 load
of beets is from seven to eight tons.
ALI 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 better set of roads than
Sweden. At the end of the year 1895
Sweden had $3.50 kilometers of cou.n-
try roads, all in very good shape. In
the northern section of the kingdom
| the mileage was only about $40 kilo-
meters a hundred square kilometers,
while in the southern part the cor
responding figure amounted to thirty
| two kilometers square kilometer.
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
che north of Sweden. During the years
! 1841 and 1900 state appropriations Of
| about 21,000,0O0 crowns were granted
| for the construction of new highways
and the improvement of the old ones,
amounting to more than $8,640,00
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 8
| not less than 1911 Swedes have left
| their homes for America. From port
| Of Bergen, Norway, no less than 1896
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 1852.
Swedish-Americans are sending
| large amounts of money to friends and
| relatives in the homeland Last year
there were sent from the United
States 1929 money orders, repre-
senting a sum amounting in Swc
dish money to not less than 12,680,.
| 541 crowns Thus 1t is that the
hand of friendship is extended
over the Atlantic and little Swe.
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 433. The
death rate of illegitimate children is
also increasing very rapidly.
A London paper states that it be-
lieves that the French author Anatole
France will this year be awarded the
Nobel Literary prize and expresses its
satisfaction over the choice. Thomas
Alva Edison has been prominently
mentioned for prizes in physics and
/ chemistry.
A treaty has been made by Sweden
and Russia, which grants the members
of the consular system of each cour-
, try more Ii critics and privileges. It
is believed that this will tend to fur