Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-08-04
SWEDEN.

A stubborn and dangerous FIRE kept
raging for days in a big peat bog near
Horny, Much valuable property was
at stake. Not only the body OF the
peat is valuable as fuel. but the nu-
merous peat curing plants scattered
over the bog were threatened with de-
struction, not 10 mention farm houses
in the immediate neighborhood Of the
bog. Men from several neighboring
villages went TO fight the fire. But
In a short while about 1876 acres Of the
bog was aglow. and over one hundred
soldiers we're ordered to the place
from Liungbyhed. Even now the fire
was checked in only one direction.
The people suffering the heaviest loss
were responsible for the fire. Burn
ing cinders were thrown on the ground
from a machine used for preparing
peat for fuel. and though there seemed
to be no danger for the time being
the fire ate itself into the ground, ana
strong east wind made It flare up
and spread in a westerly direction.
The ground covered by the fire looked
like burning furnace. and the heat
and smoke made 1t difficult for the
fire fighters to approach.
There are stiil bears In the country
around Dorotea. A farmer who
walked across the mountains between
Dabbnas and Sorfors found bones and
strips OF skin of reindeer which had
been killed not long before, and after
he had followed the tricks a short
distance he saw bear mat started
10 run as fast as he could and soon
disappeared. In the early part Of
May bear chased flock of reindeer
across a mountain pasture near Sor-
fors At Svansele a bear was seen
walking across a meadow close to the
houses. There was no rife at home,
and this saved the beast from being
fired upon.
Ira Nelson Morris, United States
minister to Sweden, reached New York
July IL aboard the steamship Bergens-
Sord from Bergen. Mr. Morris. when
he left his post. was reported to have
visited the American ministers at
Christiania and Copenhagen and re-
ceiyed from them important dis
patches for the state department at
Washington relative to the formation
of league of neutral powers This
Mr.. Morris declined to confirm or
deny. although he said he expected to
go to Washington next week. 1T
would be improper for me to discuss
diplomatic matters" said Mr.. Morris.
The year 1914 played havoc with
the forests of Sweden. In Orebro, for
instance, the ground was so dry that
not only the young trees planted in
the spring but trees up to the age of
seven years we're killed. At the same
time the weather was very favorable
to injurious insects Of several kinds.
Forest fires also contributed their
share of the work OF destruction. On
the other hand the war caused a
sharp rise of the price of lumber
At Vasteras two blacksmlths were
assessed for an income Of about $500
each People wondered how in the
world this could be possible. But the
riddle was explained when it became
known that someone In Vasteras had
won a very large prize in a Danish
lottery.
General Hjalmarson has Just re-
turned ftar a trim To China where he
concluded negotiations for establish
ing Swedish gendarmerie to preserve
order in the province of Human The
provides for the establishment
OF a force of 5000 provincial police.
by Swedes. There is to be a
central bureau at Picking with school
for officers in charge Of Swedish In
structors.
A beautiful bronze dagger from the
latter part of the bronze age was
found near the shore of Borriage lake.
The news that the queen Of Sweden
is returning from her lons visit to
Germany is received with enthusiastic
approval by the newspapers. The
press has frequently criticized sharp
" her presence in c belligerent coun-
try at this time. The queen has been
at Karlsruhe, visiting her mother, the
dowager grand duchess Of Baden Her
return has been delayed by the seri-
Gus illness of her grandson, Prince
Lennert