The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1916-01-22
IN FAR N0RTHlAllD
important Events n Sweden,
Norway and Denmark.
BRIEFS FROM OLD COUNTRY
intervening itsms From che Three
Crest Kingdoms Of the Nerth g.
lsotsd for eeandlnaviane and
Their Descendants.
sy MARTIN W. oDLANo.
Norway.


Reference has been made in those
columns to the difficulties encountered
by Norway and Sweden to secure their
supply of coal from England and Ger
many. where they have beon accus-
toned In years past TO look for their
supply, and az consequence the bust
ness men of Norway have bscome in.
terested in the development OF the
coal fields of Spitzbergen, The SpitE-
bergen coal. says an Associated Press
correspondent. is OF the hard variety
and steamers in north Norwegian wa
ters are very eager to use It. 1t has
been dinicult to keep the mines going.
The climate IL so disagreeable that
miners do not care to stay. Naviga-
ton Is only possible q couple months
after midsummer. American business
men, represented through the Arctic
Coal company. hold the largest coal
claims in Spitzbergen, on the south
and east side of Advent bay. About
$4,000 tons Of coal were mined there
last summer. half of which has gone
to Norwegian consumers. This COM
pany IL negotiating with Norwegian
business men who want to buy the
American claims and mines. Beside
this American company, Norwegian.
British and Swedish stock companies
hold coal claims at Spitsbergen. A
great Russian concern has an option
on SOMA Norwegian claims located at
Green Harbor and Is going to work
them to have coal to supply the new
Russian railway running from Petro-
grad to Kola bay. The other Norwe-
gian and Swedish coal companies are
not willing to sell as loag as prices
on the European markets are main
tanned at their present high rate and
with no prospect of dropping much the
first few years after the close of the
war.
The growth Of the temperance SEN
timent In Norway is shown by the re-
cent storthing elections. 1t is claimed
by temperance leaders that 70 per cent
Of that vote was cast for temperance
candidates. II this is true, 1t Is al
together likely that the temperance
forces will accomplish what they have
set out to do: close every licensed
drinking place in Norway by January
1, 1920. The people of Norway seem
to be vieing with their countrymen in
America in making war upon the
liquor forces.
It is reported that deposits in "a
Norwegian banks increased by about
100, 100000 kroner during the period
from January to October this year,
according to the report Of the central
statistical bureau. At the beginning
of the year the total deposits in these
banks was 5S4 900 900 kroner, while by
September 30 It had risen to 6s0,000.-
900 kroner. During the corresponding
period last year the increase was only
100000 kroner.
The Gamers Of Stavanger, the great
fish canning center of Norway, have
formed compact for the purpose OK
keeping down the price Of herring
and other fish used for canning. As
a result Of this compact. which went
into effect only few weeks ago, the
price Of fish has been cut almost In
two and shippers from Nordland have
refused to sell their cargoes.
It is reported that r. Herman Gade
has been appointed Norwegian consul
in Chicago. Before returning to Nor
way some years ago Mr.. Gade held
this position, which at that time car
ried no salary. Recently the Chicago
consulate was made salaried posi-
ton. Mr.. Gade was Norway's commits.
sioner to the Panama exposition.
The storthing will not award any
Nobel peace prize this year. on ac-
count Of the wer. No prize was award
ed year ago either. for the same rea.
son, and presumably as long as the
struggle continues no more prizes will
be awarded.
The Bergen Private bank IL 60 years
old. It was started with a capital
stock of $4,000; now It has $780, 0O
The amount Of its business in 1914
was over ss5o.0oo.ooo
According to recently published sta
tistics. commerce furnishes . living
for 100000 people Of Norway; indus
tries, 100000. and shipping and fish
ing. 100000.
While at Christiania. Henry Ford
contributed $4,000 toward the erec-
ton of gymnasium at the university.
II is reported at Christiania that DR..
Sigurd 1bsen. the son of the great
dramatist, is planning to leave Nor
way. II is reported that he will take
ND his residence either at Munich, Ger
many, or in Switzerland.
A Helpful Hint.