Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-03-16
IN FAR NORTHLAND
important Events In Sweden,
Norway and Denmark.
BRIEFS FROM OLD COUNTRY
Interesting Items From the Three
Great Kingdoms Of the North Sc
tected for Seandinavians and
Their Descendants.
BY MARTIN w. oDLAND.
Norway.

Norway.
Harry Hansen, correspondent for
the Chicago Daily News, has written
an Illuminating letter from Christiania
on the big business boom which has
come as a result of the war. The
Mr.. Hansen. Critics of Norwegian
ways. who considered the merchants
of Christiania as rather easy-going
and self-satisfied. Lave had to alter
their judgment. There is big
group of men in Christiania who are
Norwegian flag on every known trade
route. Shipping in Norway is develop
ing along two lines. There are cap
italists like Haitian Wilhelmsen who
are concerned primarily with building
up great trade routes between Norway
are those like Fred Olsen who are
investing in new steamship lines wher-
| ever they can fill a want. and
not necessarily combining their op-
| erations to Norway. Both these
men have made fortunes in shipping.
They are among the men who are
looked to for hard fight against the
great German merchant feet when the
tonnage now idle in German ports
and interned in neutral harbors re-en-
ters international competition. In
preparation for this contest scores of
/ c5,t aNs4
are being organized. T. +. Blichfeldt,
secretary of the trace intelligence bu-
reau of Norway, an Institution sup
ported by the state for the benefit
Of its merchants, informs me that d.
rect connection Is now to be had from
Norway with the Canary islands, East
Africa, South Africa. Australia, the
East Indies, the Chinese coast cities,
North America, including the west
coast of the United States, and South
America, east and west coasts, through
steamship lines organized within the
last few years. The Amer
lean line. for passengers and freight,
started with government subsidy
and has many stockholders in Chi
cago, Minneapolis and the middle West
generally. Considerable comment was
caused recently in shipping circles here
by the fancy price OF 100000 kroner
NEARLY $3.50. 000) paid for the freight
steamer Beaker, capable of carrying
Att tons gross cargo, which had
been in the La Plata trade. AS an in
stance of the increase in freight rates
is given the rate normally charged for
wheat on the ship-nine shillings six
pence to ten shillings taround $2.40)
quarter" or eight bushels. the com
mercial unit, to 95 to SO shillings a
quarter" ten times the original
amount This ship was sold by Olsen,
Olsen also has demonstrated his pro-
pressiye qualities in just placing an
order with Burmeister G. Vain, the
widely known ship builders of Copen'
hagen, for four oil-burning Diesel mo-
tor ships, of which some are to run
up to 10000 tons. In putting his faith
In oil-burning ships Olsen Is follow
Ing the footsteps of the Danish East
Asiatic company, which Is carrying on
an Asiatic trade almost exclusively
in ships run by Diesel motors fed by
oil. The daily exports OF the stock
exchange In Christiania, which is
housed in a picturesque low white
building. Greek in style and about one
hundred years old. show rising prices
and a good demand for steamship
stocks. Many OF the lines are pay
ing ten per cent on the investment
These steamship stocks are really
Norwegian war babies. A great mum
Der of them are quoted, and the pub
lie is busy digging into its stocking
paying good money for a share in the
earnings II Is thought in some guar
tiers that the old days of ruthless com
petition, when some of the larger lines
were often accused Of rate cutting tc
kill Norwegian competition, are over
and cannot return"
| Stavanger factories will turn out
hundreds of thousands of scythes fol
Russia this year. Formerly Russia
got most of the scythes she needs
from Germany and Austria, and as she
cannot obtain them there any longer
she has turned to Norway.
Quite a number Of Morse mechanics
are availing themselves Of the oppor
tunity to earn high wages In England
helping to manufacture implements
and munitions of war. 1t Is said that
the wages they draw is pound ster
ling or S. per day. Christiania alone
has contributed about hundred me
chanics to England 8 needs.
About twelve tons Of silver was TAX
en- out OF the Kongsberg silver mines
during the fiscal year l9l4-15.
The price of oil in Norway Is now
three times the normal and this Ii
partly due to the increasing popular
ity of oil-burning vessels, which ars
taking the place of the coal burners
Oil has several advantages over Goa