Willmar tribune., 1909-06-23
NORWAY.

Spring work was begun on a small
scale May "a along the west shore of
Lake Mjosen.
The people of northern Norway are
| as rule, strongly opposed to pure"
| Norwegian.
Bertha Stromme, who was the old
est lady. member of total abstinence
society in Norway, died at the age of
! SO years. She joined the first total
abstinence society in Norway, which
was organized by Asbjorn Kloster
fifty years ago, in Stavanger. Bertha
Stromme attended it's meetings until
last year, and she was sure to cut
figure at the entertainments given by
the society.
The plans for establishing a Nor
| wegian-American steamship line are
assuming definite shape. The capital
stock is to be $2,7o0,O00, and the CON-
pany will be formally organized as
soon as one-half of this amount has
been subscribed. The amount of each
share has been put at $54. The pro-
moters expect to raise some money in
England, and especially in America.
They are in hopes of avoiding
| the hostility of the great ''poo!"
by means Of American investments.
A starter will be made with two
or three last steamers of $500 tons,
which are to leave Bergen and
New York every other week. Each
| ship is to cost about 100000.
The promoters figure mainly on pas
| senger traffic, and they expect gov
ernment subsidy on account of carry
| ing the mails. The steamers will be
faster than those of the present Dan
ish line.
prone to disagree and quarrel among
themselves. But once in while
their common sense will assert itself
with practical unanimity. The pro-
posed Norwegian-American steamship
line may unite the whole people to
make it a success. The promoters
frankly admit that it will be very diff
ficult to raise the funds, and the huge
colossus of the transatlantic pool may
decide to crush the enterprise in it's
infancy. But in great pinch like
this it is time to mention that this is
exactly what the inmost nature of the
| Norwegian needs in order to show
what he can do. The opposition of
the pool may yet be the very means
Of putting the new line on safe and
sound basis. For years the Norwe-
gians have been smarting under the
absence of their flag above the great
transatlantic steamers, and when that
flag is once hoisted even the merest
clodhopper in the remotest Dovre
mountain valley will be apt to do what
little he can to keep It there. In
other words, it looks as if the pool
will have to deal with a. solid nation
If it throws the gauntlet to the Nor
wegian-American steamship line.
Official statistics indicate that the
consumption of whisky is increasing,
while that of wine and beer is about
the same as before. This fact is used
as an argument against closing the
Samlag saloons.
| Queen Maud signed petition from
the women Of Norway to the British
parliament, asking that body to give
the women Of england the right to
vote.
Over 50,000.000 Goldfish were caught
along the coasts Of Norway during the
spring season. This exceeds the catch
Of 1908 by 100000 fish.
Norway's first crematory, which 10
located at Kristiania cemetery, was
dedicated May "a. Rev. Jonas Dahl
preached q sermon, emphasizing that
neither interment nor cremation is
essential, but the belief of the person
at his death. Mayor Berner turned
the institution over to the cremation
society.
Ole Kristian Rosseland and wife,
nee Jensen, at Brenaasen, near Kris.
tiaAsand, have celebrated their dia.
mond wedding.
About 900 singers took part in Q
! saengerfest at Stayanger.