Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1914-06-24
CONTINUED from first page.)

distance of eight American miles,
and is the second longest in the
world. The contractor lost 1900.
900 Kr. on it.
The scenery between these two
cities is wonderful and yet one pas
ses through some excellent farming
country Many of the buildings are
as good as our very best. The lands
range in price from $500 to $500
an acre. The waterfalls that are
so beautiful and so interesting to
foreigners are fast being harnessed
Tor commercial uses. Revenue must
be obtained from every possible
source. The cost of living is as
great a problem in Norway as in
America. I find it nearly twice as
expensive as it was nine years ago.
However, since that time there
has been decided advancement in
every way. l refer now to the in
Uustrial progress. Wealth is rapidly
accommodating in the country. This
is true to such an extent that the
Norwegians, themselves, are now
developing the natural resources,
whereas in the old days, it was
mostly English capital that was
employed. The most noticeable pro-
gross, of course, has been made in
and about Bergen, Christiania, and
Trondhjem though Odda, Jgervik,
and Lillehammer have grown very
fast.
Only seven per cent of this large
country is productive so you can
readily see that two and one-half
million people know how to con-
serve the resources at hand. One
permit. Owing to the high price of
lands it is very hard for the farm
Rrs to make more than living,
though eggs are CSC per dozen, but
ter soc per round, and everything
else is proportionately high. Wood
is IS and Sc per cord. The maxi
mum price for sixteen candle power
electric lamps is $3.50 per year.
On our arrival at the Grand Ho-
tel in Christiania we found the three
rooms we had reserved overlooking
Karl Johan Gade, very delightful
and comfortable. The hotel is wor-
thy of New York City They call
Christiania THE Paris of the
North" and it is we'll named for one
sees as much style and life here
as in our largest cities.
We were in time for the aviation
meet that was held May 18th. The
famous Frenchmal, Canteloupes,
performed wonderfully, flying up
side down, on end, and turning
somersaults in the air. We took lun-
cheon that day with Mr.. Guide,
Lieutenant of the Danish Life
Guards. This gentleman, by the
way, is the son of the late Norwe-
gian Minister to the United States
who was once in DEBORAH.
We had the pleasure of calls
from Mr. Wilhelm Won Munthe, of
Morganstierne, chief editor of the
leading morning parer; H. o. l.
Oppedal of Verdens Gang, and
Others Tom Haugse who you will
remember, used to work for Olson
and Thompson at DEBORAH, and lat
er for X. /. Haugen, came clear
from Eide to pay us visit. We
enjoyed it immensely. He looks as
young as he did ten years ago, and
sends regards to friends.
At the Luther College Band Con-
cert which we all attended, we
found the Auditorium simply pack
ed; fully five hundred people were
standing up. The concert was a
success, financially as well as artis-
tically.
On May 18th, the great centenni-
al parade began at nine in the NOR
ming and lasted till eleven fifteen.
1t passed under our windows and
we were permitted to view the most
impressive display we ever expect
to see. Fully thirty thousand school
children, none over sixteen, march
ed. There were, at least fifty juve-
nile bands, and every child carried
q flag. Luther Band was in the pro-
cession and received an ovation.
The boys, certainly made, as usual,
a striking appearance.
For eight o'clock at our, (The
Grand) hotel, we reserved a table.
There we saw the four hundred of
Norway. Three hundred tables were