Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-11-24
NORWAY.

scandinavian countries. has become
in Norway a leading issue in the pres
ent political campaign. Gunnar Knud-
sen, the prime minister, stated in re-
cent speech that countrywide prohi.
bition would be an achievement of the
near future. But except among so
cialist and radical circles which have
strongly espoused the prohibition
cause, it is thought that the economic
and international complications re-
sulting from such reform will make
able. The wine-producing European
countries do not look favorably upon
the curtailment of their liquor ex-
ports to Norway, and it is felt that in
the case of prohibition reforms, they
will undertake reprisals which will
seriously injure the commercial and
financial standing of the country. In
1909, when the storthing passed bill
restricting the import OF French
wines, Norwegian bonds were refused
rating on the Paris exchange, and
the bill was repealed at a secret SEES
sion. The French declaration, made
at this time. to the effect that France
would assume the liberty of making
such an answer to any Norwegian leg
islation detrimental to Frances wine
trade, is still in force. France. Spain
and Portugal. according to a tariff
declaration of 1910, will double the
duty on articles imported from coun-
tries which throw difficulties in the
way of the wine trader. The Norwe-
gian exports to these countries are sew
eral million dollars in excess of the
imports, and any interference with
these exports would work a serious
commercial injury to Norway. Nor
way, at present, enjoys the most
favored nation" clause in her COM
mercial treaties with France. Ii
France feels that the wine exports to
Norway are being restricted. she
may, according to the tariff declara-
| ton already mentioned. take any
steps the circumstances dictate" in
cluding the raising Of harbor dues
for Norwegian ships in French har-
bors, which will make it difficult for
| Norway to compete with other ma
lions. France at present takes half
of all the wood pulp and cellulose
produced in Norway and Portugal and
Spain each take 80 per cent of Nor
| prohibition use these arguments to
show that a small country like Nor
way, which is in so many ways de-
pendent on other countries. cannot.
without injuring profitable trade and
disturbing her financial standing.
adopt as strict degree of prohibit
| ton. as has been urged. All parties,
however. are agreed that there should
be rigid control of the sale of alco-
holic beverages and that their con-
sumption should be replaced by light
wines and beer.
! II Is ninety years this fall since the
FIRST steamers began to ply Norwegian
| waters. The government bought two
4 steamers which were to carry the
| mails between Fredriksvarn and Fred
/ rikshavn. The amount paid was $780,
| 600. It was really King Karl Johan
who closed the deal without consult
ing the storthing. The steamers were
called Constitution and Prince Carl.
II was feared that they would be an
| expensive luxury, and a proposition
| was made to sell them again. But
this was defeated, and 1t did not take
long to prove that the steamers were
| - nos, THAR UNIV
A Christiania merchant ordered
some silk goods from Germany. de-
handing the color of Russian green
But the answer came back that the
manufacturer had no Russian green
| but Won Hindenburg color could be
had in place of 1t.
The amount of Smaalenene raised
almost SEQ 00o bushels of rye last sum-
mer Akershus came as number two.
! producing about 10000 bushels.
| Those parts of the country produced
/ about 10000 bushels of wheat Barley
is raised in - parts of the country
as far nor b a the middle of Fin
marken. TIL, grain often ripens TO
perfection far above the polar circle
| in Norway.
About 100000 logs were RATED on
the Glommen and it's $50 tributaries
/ last summer,
The directors of the Bank of Nor
way have sent a warning to all its
branches to be very careful in loaning
money. especially on ships. 1t is real
ICED that speculation is carried to dan
| gerous extremes at the present time,
and if the war should suddenly close
some Norwegians would find them,
selves in a very bad hole,
The city of Drammen had an ice
breaking steamer which was built
twenty-five years ago at a cost Of
about sS5,000 Now II has Just been
sold TO q Dane for 100000.