Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-08-26
important Events in Sweden,
Norway and Denmark.
BRIEFS FROM OLD COUNTRY
Interesting Items From The Three
Great Kingdoms o. the North g.
tected FOR Scandinavians and
Their Descendants.
~ MARTIN w. oDLAND.

the problem OF providing reserve sup
ply OF food for the kingdom. The agri-
cultural department reports that pri-
waite importers, fearing fall In the
prices OF grain. have been buying only
in small quantities, with the result
that a serious situation is In sight II
further importation should suddenly
be cut OF.
To meet this situation the cabinet
has proposed remedy that is both
radical and far-reaching, by submit
ting to the storthing bill providing
flor authorization Of government
monopoly on the importation OF grain
and -four. The bill also clothes the
central government with power to
regulate the distribution of these COM
m0dities from the national and COM
mercial warehouses
Ii the government obtains the mo.
nopoly sought In the bill. there will be
no duty on the importation of grain
and flour. but prices would be main
tanned at the level necessary to insure
the state proper revenue, and as
there would be no importation except
through the government, the system
would incidentally serve both the pro-
tective and revenue functions OF q
tariff.
BY thus controlling the importation
OF grain and -four, the government
also hopes to encourage agriculture to
such an extent that the country may
be less dependent upon other nations
for its food supply. Steps have also
been taken to give scientific assist
ance in the development of intensive
agriculture and in a better utilization
Of the country's food products.
When the Norwegian American
Steamship company was organized
some years ago, the Norwegian gov
eminent agreed to grant 1t loan OF
100000 crowns. Last year 100000
crowns OF this amount were paid to
the company and the remaining 200,-
900 were to have been turned over this
year. But during the past IL months
the company has been SO prosperous
that 1t did not need the 100000 crowns
available this year and has reduced
the Indebtedness to the government
by paying back $4,000 crowns of the
amount received year ago. When
The Norwegian-American steamship
line was promoted, the pessimistic
prophesied q trying future for the en-
terprise and the most sanguine did not
expect large profits. The company has.
however. surprised both the pessi-
mlsts and optimists by the record 1t
has made. Its prosperity 10 due in
large measure to the Norwegian cen.
.ennial exposition of 1914 and to the
war. which has proven an immense
boost for tile merchant ships Of neu-
trail nations.
The Lutheran Herald says that
church circles in Norway are consid-
srably agitated In places over the sani-
.ary and individual communion cup.
In trying to reconcile matters the
church department Is said to have au-
.horized no less than three patterns OF
Individual communion cups and ladle
FOR filing them. An ordinance pro.
rides that two shelves may be fas.
.ened to the sides of the altar for hold.
ing the individual cups. But in many
II the churches there is no place for
such shelves. and the new innovation
has not been very enthusiastically re.
ceived by those who actually care
much about the sacrament. Some OF
he opponents predict with indigna.
ion that such "fandangoes" will even.
ually destroy the sacrament OF the
altar entirely.
A Bergen newspaper is authority
sen has gone to England to continue
his training as an aeroplane pilot.
When he announced his intention of
seeking the North pole, Captain
Amundsen stated that he intended to
make use OF aeroplanes for observa.
made up his mind to become an aero
plane pilot hi nself
The American flag was hoisted over
The steamer Allaguasch. formerly the
Norwegian steamer Rygja, by Edward
D. Winslow. the American consul gen.
eral This action sets at rest the
doubts as to the genuineness OF the
purchase OF the Rygia by the Ameri-
-an Transatlantic line. The steamer
will sail for New York Saturday.
A Norwegian paper declares that the
Alue OF the iodine production in Nor
way has doubled since the outbreak of
Inc European war. The annual output
ID about 10000 Kilograms. The iodine
Is obtained from the ashes OF burned
seaweeds gathered along the coast.
During the month of July So Norwe-
gian ships made the port OF New York.
During the same period 1877 American
and 1870 English ships visited the port,
but only Is French, Ii Italian, is
Dutch and IL Danish ships put in at
he same port