Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1915-05-27
important Events h Sweden,
Norway and Denmark.
BRIEFS FROM OLD COUNTRY
Interesting ltsms From ths rhrss
orsat Kingdoms % ths Nerth -
tsctsd FOR 3eandtnsvtane ana
THAR Descendant.
ny MARTIN W. oDlANn.
Norway

retained control OF them for several
centuries. In the twelfth century
| Ragnvald Jarl. their Norwegian lord.
began the erection OF the cathedral.
which still stands = monument to the
former masters Of the islands. The
Orkneys 40 well as the Shetland H.
lands We're lost to Norway I'M 1862.
when King Christian I. who was then
ruler OF the united kingdom OF Dan
mark and Norway. gave the islands 10
King James Of Scotland N security
for the dowry which he promised the
Scottish king ON his marriage with
the daughter Of King Christian.
| II 10 announced ut Christiania that
what was probably the biggest under
water explosion ever undertaken Ia
Europe was carried out In the 0lom.
men river recently. when that stream
was temporarily given new channel
In order to facilitate the construction
OF dam at Solbergfos The charge
consisted OF $500 pounds OF explo-
sives. The enormous power OF this
discharge may be gathered from 4
comparison with the charge of "A or.
binary mine used In the present war.
which contains usually from one hun.
| dred to two hundred pounds Of explo-
sives.
| The high freight rates which have
been brought about by the war are
responsible for q setback to the gran
lite industry OF Norway. In former
years large quantities OF granite have
been shipped from Norwegian quar-.
ries to England, Cuba, Argentine and
other countries. Now large quantities
OF cut stone Is held In storage at Fred
rikshald and other places till after the
close of the war, when the freight
rates will so down.
A Christiania report says that Prof.
q. A. Gustafson, professor OF archie
ology ut the University OF Christiania,
deed April 10. He was regarded as
one OF the foremost authorities Of the
present time In northern archaeology
and his name has become widely iden-
titled with the restoration OF the Ose-
berg viking ship. He was Swedish by
birth, having been born In the city OF
Visby, Gothland, and he was q gradu-
ate OF the University OF Upsala.
A total of 1886 shares OF stock In
the Norwegian-American line Ia held
by Norwegian-American while about
twenty-eight thousand shares are held
by Norwegians In Norway. There are
altogether some 1000 shareholders In
the company. the number being fairly
/ equally divided between Norwegians
In Norway. The par value OF the
stock held by Norwegian-Americans II
$1,262,25o.
The Norwegian Hydro company,
which controls the patent rights to
the BirkelandsEyde process OF manu-.
featuring fertilizer from air has sold
license for the use OF the process TO
| company In Canada. The Norwe.
gian Hydro company operates the i'm.
mense waterpower at Rjukan Falls.
The reports from the South sea In.
dictate that the whaling season now
drawing to a close will be the most
| profitable one ever experienced by the
whalers OF Norway. IL Ia estimated
that the gross receipts Of the compa.
MES operating In the South sea will
be not less than 100000 crowns
/
| Norway was third among the ma
tons as regards the number Of ships
which visited the port of New York
during the month of April this year.
being exceeded by the United States
and England only. The number of
English ships was 2f0: American
ships. 1870. and Morse ships. 70.
The steamers Storstad. which be.
came famous for sinking the empress
| OF Ireland In collision In the Gulf OF
st. Lawrence, arrived at Narvik re-
Gently and took on cargo OF metal
for Rotterdam. This Ia the first visit
OF the steamer to Norway since the
tragic event referred TO.
KfrkwalI, the little seaport on the
Orkney islands. north OF Scotland,
which has been frequently mentioned
In dispatches announcing tho deten-
ton OF merchant vessels by British
warships. was originally Morse town,
Its old Morse name being Kirkeyang.
The interesting news comes from
Telemarken that five hundred men are
employed In the construction of the
Rjukan II electric plant ut the Rjukan
falls in Upper Telemarken, Norway. ii
Is expected that the plant will be com
pleted before the end OF the year. This
will complete the harneasing OF the
two plants, Rjukan ! and Rjukan III,
| together supplying 100000 horsepower
Of electric current. The current will
be used principally In the manufacture
OF artificial fertilizers, the raw mate.
rails for which are the atmosphere
and nitrogsaous rock.