Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-04-15
SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT HAP.
PENlN6s IN FAR OFF
NORTHWEST.
ITEMS FROM THE OLD NOME
Resume Of the Most Important Events
In Sweden, Norway and Denmark
OF Interest to the seandInavIans
N America.
SWEDEN.


railways OF Sweden to be a financial
failure. Sweden owns 1850 miles Of
steam railways. The total cost Of
these railways is $16S,043,S46 and the
capital increase during the year 1913
amounted to $5,360,000. From opera
ton the railways received from
freight traffic $15,16S,S00, and from
passengers $7,63S,O00. The running
expenses amounted to $16,S57 200,
leaving balance of $5,949. 900. Social
lists would call this profit because
they would ignore interest on the cost
OF the railways and the loss of taxes
AS these aforementioned railways
of Sweden cost total of $168, 043,S46,
the annual interest charge of four per
cent would amount to $6,721,753. The
loss In taxes, based on the rate which
the private-owned railways Of this
country pay, would amount to $1,425,-
900, increasing the real running ex-
penses to $s.14S,753. Subtracting the
balance from operation at $5,949,600,
we have total net loss Of $2,197, 153
for the year 1918. The wages paid on
those railways are only about one-half
the rate paid in this country, and the
freight rates are three times as high
as in this country. Yet, with freight
rates which average 2.23 cents per
ton per mile, the net loss on less than
5000 miles of government-owned rail-
ways Amounted to $2,197,153 in one
year. Comparing freight rates on the
railways of Sweden with the rates in
this country under private ownership,
we see still further loss, indirectly,
of more than $10,000,00O annually
Los Angeles Times.
The telegraph department will soon
be ready to report on proposition to
make thorough revision Of the tele-
phone rates. In the first place there
will be a general raise. In the Sec
ond place the rates will be adjusted
according to the number of calls that
are made through each instrument.
For example, 1t is suggested that II
600 calls are made in year the charge
will be 81 for 1000 calls, SIC, and so
forth. The maximum rates for phones
placed in business houses may be put
as high as $35 or even more. The
proposed change will bring the gov
eminent an extra income of about
100000. The private companies will
also have to pay higher tax, so that
the net increase of the receipts of
the national government will be about
$750,000. krsv ,v,-s- ~
Eva BONNER has offered to donate
to the city OF Stockholm a work of
sculpture to be placed in public
park, and IS sculptors have handed in
competitive sketches. g.
The old man with the scythe reaped
a rather rich harvest last winter, espe-
cially among old people. In some way
or other the weather seems to have
been extra hard on old people
The Swedish steamer Goosebridge,
with a cargo of iron ore, was brought
into Sunderland by a British prize
crew. The Goosebridge sailed from
Santander, Spain, and its cargo is pre-
sumed to be destined for Germany.
The Patriotic society awarded its
large silver medal for long and faith
full service to four members of the
same family at Munkerud. Ransater.
namely, Peter, Britta-Lena, Stina and
Katarina Person.
Only three children are attending
the public school at Lersadala, Varna-
mo parish. The school Is located in a
district which is very sparsely popu-
lated.
The sugar beet growers of Skane
feel uneasy about getting the neces-
sary help for next summer. In for
mer years about 1900 Galicians have
spent the summer season in the beet
fields of southern Sweden. Two hun
bred of them stayed during the win
ter, so that about 1000 more will be
needed this time. But the war makes
It difficult, not to say impossible for
Galician laborers to travel from Ca
licia to Sweden. Numerous letters
from Galicia prove that the laborers
are anxious to go to Sweden. and the
beet growers have sent representa-
tive to Galicia to see what can be
done by way of giving them chance
to go to a place where they can make
much more money than they can at
home.
A number of temperance restaurants
we're opened in Stockholm a few
weeks ago, but they offered a sorry
sight. The customers all crowded to
the restaurants where liquor is served
''Svanen" is the name of restaurant
which the temperance people fur
nished at great expense, but the bust
ness is so poor that 1t must either be
closed or liquor must be served there.
The public school building at Skel
leftea was destroyed by fire. 1t was
a four-story brick building. which had
been put up at cost Of about $4,000
AS farmer was driving past the
public school of 4 Nassjo the boys
scared his horse by throwing snow.
balls at him. The driver was thrown
against tree and had his skull sfrac-
tured. He was Immediately taken to
the hospital at Eksjo. but died on the
way.
Eagles are much more numerous