Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1913-12-11
IN FAR NORTHLAND
important Events in Sweden,
Norway and Denmark.
BRIEFS FROM OLD COUNTRY
Interesting Items From the Three
Great Kingdoms of the North Sc
Ieeted for seandlnavlans and
Their Descendants.
BY MARTIN W. oDLANp.

Norway.
There is a possibility that Capt.
Roal Amundsen's north pole expedi-
ton may be delayed somewhat, for
letter from Lieut.. Thorvald Nilsen.
second in command of the Fran, says
that the hull of the celebrated ship
has been attacked by dry rot in sew
eral places, and will have to undergo
thorough overhauling upon its ar
rival in San Francisco. The letter
also states that the canned meats and
other provisions for the expedition
have been spoiled to some extent and
will have to be replaced. Captain
Nilsens letter says that the dry rot
was discovered on the way from
Buenos Ayres to Colon. Previous to-
that time no trace of any defect had
been noted, although the vessel had
been examined regularly and had been
watched with the most painstaking
care. The repair of the vessel will be
most thorough, as it would be folly to
venture into the polar ice for possibly
seven years with q defective ship.
The repairs will be made under the
personal supervision of Amundsen'
who expects to arrive in San Francis
co in February.
The spoilage of the canned goods Is
considered most unfortunate. Not
only will their replacement entail a
big cost, but it is possible that the
expedition may be delayed in start
ing on account of the difficulty OF get
ting just the kind and quality Of pro-
visions needed on short notice. That
the amount needed is very considera-
BILE is indicated by the fact that one
shipment alone from Christiania con-
tanned 60 tons.
A Christiania report says that the
Society for the Prevention OF Emigra-
ton Is making renewed efforts to
bring about the reclamation Of waste
land in Norway, as a means of staying
the outward tide of emigration. Work
in this direction has accomplished
much good In many other European
countries, and 1t is believed that Nor
way contains much land that could be
put to use In the same way and made
to furnish employment and sustenance
for many people.
The society has begun, the collection
Of material for history Of Morse en-
igration. The figures compiled show
that the emigration during the period
1S66-1905 has been heaviest from the
Yaldres district, where 81 per cent.
of the middle class have departed and
sought home In other lands North
and South Gudbrandsdalen follow
closely with GA and 81 per cent. re-
spectively, and Sogn comes fourth
with So per cent
Or. Fritjob hansen. who has been
making tour of Siberia in the inter
est of the Norway-Siberian line, was
received with immense enthusiasm
upon his arrival in st. Petersburg. AS
he stepepd of the train he was sur
rounded by throng of cheering Rus
slams, many of whom were among
those who welcomed him to the city
on his lecture tour following his re-
turn from his north pole expedition.
Doctor hansen expressed his graft
tude for the reception in a brief
speech, in which he spoke of the great
land he had observed. He expressed
the opinion that Siberia is land with
a great future. capable of great de-
velopment.
1t begins to look as If North Dako-
ia viii not be the only state to be rep
resented with an exhibit at the Chris
tiania exposition next year. have
called attention to the failure of the
legislatures of Wisconsin and Mime
sofa to appropriate funds to defray
the expense of an exhibit at Christi
ania, and 1t was supposed that that
would end the matter. but leading cit
liens of those states have organized a
movement to raise the necessary
funds by private subscription. and
the character of these citizens makes
It fairly certain that the movement
will not fail In each state the gov
ernor has put himself at the head OF
the movement.
Andrew Iverson and Mrs. Helga
Stenson OF Drammen, Norway, have
each fallen heir to $35, 1000, bequeathed
to them by their brother, Emil Iver-
son, Of Chicago, who recently died,
leaving an estate valued at half mil
lioa dollars. This is the largest in
heritance transferred by the Norwe-
gian consulate OF Chicago, and will
make the recipients independent for
life.
Norway has 1,250000 acres of good,
tillable soil which has never been put
under the pillow. The question is how
to take advantage of this chance. II
is figured out that 1t would pay better
to use Norway saltpeter at home than
to sell 1t abroad even at price of $50
a ton. Besides the 1,250,000 acres of |
dry unbroken ground the drainable
marshes of the country cover an area
of 100000 acres.
A farmer at Vaffeken, near Hahn
stad, has raised beet Weighing rs
pounds.
From New York comes the news
that Morse mechanic. Hans Hansen.
in the employ of the Eastern Flexible
Conduit company. New York, has re-
Gently invented new method OF cleo
trio insulation and a process for its
manufacture that has caused decid- !
ed drop in the price of certain con-
Quits. The invention is known as the |
armored flexible conduit Attempts by |
larger concerns to freeze out the east |