The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1915-10-14
NORWAY.


Something very close to a panic II
spreading over both Norway and Swe
den as a result of the alarming scar
city of provisions and the unprecedent
ed prices which are demanded for the
simplest kind of food. Norway is now
on the point of following Sweden's
lead in prohibiting the export of ali
provisions of which there is present
shortage in order that prices may be
brought down within reach Of the
poorer classes. The advance in prices
in Norway is approximately the same
as in Sweden, but in some cases it has
been even more marked. Herrings,
which are one of the main articles OF
diet among the peasant population:
have risen from two cents to four and
one-half and five cents apiece, and
the present price of oatmeal is ESQ
per cent higher than it was before the
| war. The meat shortage was tempo
rarily relieved some time ago, as it
was in Sweden, by the slaughter of
a large number Of cattle which there
was not enough grain to feed but
prices have now advanced again,
reaching the highest level ever Known
in Norway. 1t is curious paradox,
! however, that as nation Norway's
economic and financial condition is
better than before the war. Nor
ways tremendous exports, at the same
time that they have drained the co,ln.
try of it's necessary provisions for
home consumption and carried masses
of the people to the verge of starva-
ton, have brought tremendous
amount of money into the country, en-
a5led the country to pay for ali its
imports and left a large surplus to be
used for industrial purposes and pub
lie loan. The Bank of Norway-the
governments bank-had year ago
$20,O00,000 of gold in it's vaults. To-
day it has $40,000,000. A year ago
it had issued paper money to the ex-
tent of $5,250,000 beyond it's deposits,
while today with the same amount of
paper currency in circulation, it has
reserve of 100000. Deposits in.
private banks are at present $50000-
900 greater than year ago on the
same date. These banks had to their
credit in foreign banks 100000 last
year. This year they have 100000
600. The war has thus brought Nor
way a flood tide of prosperity, and if
government action is taken to reduca
present prices and provide the poor
er people with food Norway will have
little to lose and a great deal to gain
from long war. Norway's friend
ship for England and the fact that
she has had less to complain of in
the restriction of imports than Sweden
have made her trade question a much
less serious one than in her sister
country. Her chief grievance against
England remains the English censor
ship of her mail and cablegrams to
America and other neutral countries
Norway is still trying to devise a
more direct and speedier communica.
ton with America.
The supreme court Of England has
ruled that the Norwegians have no
right to use the French name "sar-
dimes" for the fish that they can in
Norway. The Norwegians at once
agreed to use the Norwegian word.
"Brsling," which has the advantage
Of being very simple and easy 10 pro-
nounce by people using different Ian:
guages. The Norwegians realize that
their own name will do just as we'll.
They even have reason to believe
that brisling will have a good mar.
ket In France after the war. The le-
gal fight for the French word cost the
Norw egians heap Of money.
A touching sight was witnessed at
the Christiania Eastern station the
other day. 1t was the arrival of IA
ladies of different ages, but all dressed
in the deepest mourning. They wera
Norwegians and Germans who had
been to Germany to place wreaths on
the graves Of their fallen husbands
and sons. The German authorities
had assisted them in many ways, and
finally had made arrangements for CIV.
ing them chance TO return in com
pany to Norway Even those whe
did not know the ladies we're deeply
moved at the sight, " y -
d ~ .