Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1915-06-10
SCANDINAVIAN NEWS
SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT HAP.
PENiNos IN FAR OFF
NORTHWEST.
ITEMS FROM THE OLD HOME
Resume Of the Most Important Events
In Sweden, Norway and Denmark
OF Interest to the seandInavlans
In America.
NORWAY.

|
| The prohibition movement in Nor
way has received some impetus as a
result of the war, and while there is
! no clear indication of what the effect
Will be. there are number Of inter-
esting phases OF the situation. Since
the prohibition movement was started
10 years ago the consumption OF
strong liquor is shown statistically to
have diminished gradually in all Nor
way from ten quarts of 100 per cent
alcohol per capita to about one and
one-half quarts. The laws have made
1t more and more difficult to obtain
these drinks, and, according to the law
OF 1894, no sale or no saloons are al
lowed In the rural districts. In the
cities, the sale of liquor in saloons or
restaurants is done by stock COM
panies which get their license by mu-
nicipal voting. These companies are
allowed only five per cent interest on
their capital, the remainder Of the
| profits going to the state, the city or
philanthropic institutions. Beer and
wine, in bottles, may be sold by any
| grocer. The sale of all intoxicants,
however, is suspended everywhere
during holidays. The legislature has
gradually raised the duty on imported
| liquor, and has fixed high revenue
on native distillation, and also on beer
with an alcoholic percentage of over
Sh. Under these laws sobriety has
generally increased The restricted
| sale of liquor, however, has driven the
lower classes of the population to the
use of denatured alcohol, Of eau de
cologne, ether and shellac, and in
many industrial centers and in dry
towns. blind pigs" are not unknown.
When the war broke out the govern
ment ordered temporary suspension
in liquor manufacture and sale, but
this resulted in large individual impor-
tations of whisky and brandy.
The Grasvik church was burnt to
the ground the other day. The fire
was first noticed at half past nine in
the morning and in the course of an
hour the wooden structure was leveled
with the ground. The fire is supposed
to have been started by sparks from
a defective stove pipe. Nothing but
the baptismal font, the chandeliers
and the vestments of the two pastors
were saved. The church building was
| insured for $4,000. There was no in
surance on the organ, which had cost
| $500, and had been acquired by means
of private subscriptions. 1t is said
that the church will not be rebuilt.
A Stavanger syndicate has been do
ing some successful speculation In
Spitzbergen coal fields during the
last few years. A company of Russian
and German business men had an OBJ
tion on one of the best claims and
paid the first installment. But as the
purchasers were unable to keep up
the payments according to the con-
tract the property reverted to the
Stavanger company. Now the same
property has been sold to Russian
company for about $4,000, which is
about $4,000 more than the price
agreed upon at the first SALE
About six hundred sea mines have
been fished up along the west coast of
Norway. The Norwegians are becom-
ing experts in handling those pesky
things at last, and II is estimated that
the comUerciai value of the 600 mines
was about $4,000. Many Morse tar
Is so used to dangerous fishing that he
rather enjoys this new kind of sport
and it takes very big fish to be worth
as much as full grown marine mine
OF the crop of 191415. Most Of the
mines are English.
According to the annual report of
the forestry association of Norway
the amt, or county associations, plant
ed S.500,000 trees and $40 pounds OF
tree seeds in 1914. Almost 400 miles
OF bitches were dug, and 10000 acres
Of ground was put under the plow. The
amount of money raised by private SUBJ
scription for carrying on the work was
little over $4,000.
People complain that the prices of
food are rising rapidly In Bergen Even
fish is very high. because the goods
are bought and transported east. some
times as far as Germany.
Expert testimony given at naval
investigation into the sinking of the
Norwegian steamer America, in the
North sea, was that the vessel had
been destroyed by torpedo.
William H. MCGEE & Co., under
writer's OF New York, insured dia.
monds which were shipped ON the
Lusitania. sunk of the Irish coast.
The diamonds, which were valued at
$13,500. we're packed in small box
and presumably were stored away in
the liners safe. When the news of
the sinking of the Lusitania was re-
ceived the underwriters were prepared
to pay the total loss. Now they have
received cablegram from London
which announces that the package has
been picked up in the ocean by Nor
wegian fishermen.
The country around Tromso was
visited by terrible storm the last
days of April. Many houses were
blown down or moved from their
foundations. In few cases the houses
were blown bodily into the sea and
carried away. Many miraculous es-
capes are reported. At least two per-
sons were killed, and two others may
die of their Injuries At the most ~