Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1915-04-14
SCANDINAVIAN NEWS.
SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT HAP.
PENINes IN FAR OFF
NORTHWEST.
ITEMS FROM THE OLD HOME
Resume Of the Most important Events
In Sweden, Norway ard Denmark
OF interest to the scandinavians
Ia America.
SWEDEN.

| SWEDEN.
Recent consular reports show the
| operation of the goYeTnment-owned
railways of Sweden to be a financial
failure. Sweden owns 1850 miles of
| steam railways. The total cost Of
these railways is $16S,043, $40 and the
capital increase during the year 1913
amounted TO $500, 900. From opera
ton the railways received from
freight traffic s15,16S,SO0. and from
passengers $7.63s 900. The running
expenses amounted to $16,S57 200,
leaving balance of s5.949. 900. Social
lists would call this a profit because
they would ignore interest on the cost
! Of the railways and the loss of taxes.
As these goysmment-owned railways
OF Sweden cost a total of $168, 043, SAC,
the annual interest charge of four per
cent would amount to s6,721,7 1853. The
loss In taxes. based on the rae which
the private-owned railways of this
country pay, would amount to S1,425,-
0OJ, increasing the real running ex-
penses to $s.146,753. Subtractinx the
BALANCE from operation at $5,9l9, 500.
we have a total net loss OF S2,1s7,153
for he year 1913. The wages paid on
these railways are only about one-half
tbs rate paid in this country, and the
freight rates are three times as high
as in this country. Yet, with freight
rates which average 2.23 cents per
ton per mile, the net loss on less than
1900 miles of government-owned rail-
ways amounted to s2,197,153 in one
year. Comparing freight rates on the
railways of Sweden with the rates In
this country under private ownership,
we see still further loss, indirectly,
Of more than s10,000,000 annually
Los Angeles Times.
The telegraph department will soon
be ready to report on a proposition to
make a thorough revision of the tele-
phone rates. In the first place there
will be general raise. In the Sec
ond place the rates will be adjusted
according to the number OF calls that
are made through each instrument
For example, it is suggested that If
600 calls are made in a year the charge
win be 81 for 1000 calls, SIG, and so
forth. The maximum rates for phones
placed in business houses may be put
as high as S35 or even more The
proposed change will bring the gov
eminent an extra income of about
100000. The private companies will
also have to pay a higher tax. so that
the net increase of the receipts OF
the national government will be about
$75O,O0O.
Eva BONNER has offered to donate
to the city of Stockholm a work of
sculpture to be placed in a public
park, and Sc sculptors have handed in
competitive sketches.
The old man with the scythe reaped
a rather rich harvest last winter. espe-
cially among old people. In some way
or other the weather seems TO have
been extra hard on old people
The Swedish steamer Goosebridge,
with cargo of iron ore, was brought
into Sunderland by a British prize
crew. The Goosebridge sailed from
Santander, Spain. and its cargo is pre-
sumed to be destined for Germany.
The Patriotic society awarded its
large silver medal for long and faith
full service to four members of the
same family at Munkerud, Ransater,
namely, Peter, Britta-Lena, Stina and
KataTina Person.
Only three children are attending
the public school at Lersadala, Varna-
mo parish. The school is located in
district which is very s2arsely popu-
lated.
The sugar beet growers OF Skane
feel uneasy about getting the neces-
sary help for next summer. In for
mer years about 1900 Galicians have
spent the summer season in the beet
fields of southern Sweden. Two hun
dred of them stayed during the win
ter, SO that about 1000 more will be
needed this time But the war makes
It difficult, not to say impossible for
Galician laborers to travel from Ga
licia to Sweden. Numerous letters
from Galicia prove that the laborers
are anxious to go to Sweden, and the
beet growers have sent representa-
tive to Galicia to see what can be
done by way of giving them chance
to go to a place where they can make
much more money than they can at
home.
A number of temperance restaurants
we're opened in Stockholm a few
weeks ago, but they offered sorry
sight. The customers all crowded to
the restaurants where liquor is served.
'Svanen' is the name of a restaurant
which the temperance people fur
nished at great expense, but the bush
ness is so poor that it must either be
closed or liquor must be served there.
The p. bic school building at skel.
leftea wts destroyed by fire. II was
a four.story brick bniiaa..-ss. which had
Been nut W az cost Of about $4,000,
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