Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-06-29
Norway.

v
ciaf figures for 1914 and 1915 are not
at hand yet, but while the value OF
the crops has probably been enhanced
by rs to 80 per cent, the freights for
1915 amount to at least four times as
much as those Of normal years, and
the proceeds of the fisheries probably
to more than twice as much as for
1913. The prominence Of shipping
among the industries of Norway dates
far back. but 1t was the Crimean war
that brought 1t up to the position it
now occupies. The high freights dur
ing that war laid the base of many
comparatively great fortunes in the
Gus crisis came when the sailing YES
sells went out of date and had to be
replaced with steamers. Many Nor
wegfan ship owner lost all he had
This change had, however. been ac-
complished before the present war.
The Norwegian merchant feet is to
great extent dependent on the inter-
national market; only one-twelfth Of
1t can find employment in the traffic
to and from the mother country. Be-
cause Of this international character
OF the shipping Norwegian ship own
ers during the first months Of the
war felt very nervous. Their prop
erty was liable to destruction while
the belligerents seemed to ignore all
the international rules formerly gov
ernipg the position Of neutrals. And
the situation Of the international trade
that followed the declaration of war
seemed to augur Ill for anything like
a repetition of the state OF affairs dur
ing the Crimean war. BY and by the
world began to fit itself to the new
state Of things, confidence returned.
and the exchange of goods between
nations found new ways and means.
The worlds tonnage has been reduced
by some rs per cent, about ten million
tons-mostly German and Austrian
ships, which would Immediately be
captured by the enemy II they went
to sea. To this reduction must be
added the many ships destroyed by
mines and submarines. This state Of
affairs resulted in the high freights
that have brought SO many millions
Of dollars to Norway, though. at the
same time, everything has become
very expensive. as there are few ar.
ticles outside of fish and wood Of
which the supply within the country
Is large enough to cover the demand.
Next to the shipping interest in Nor
ways international affairs comes the
interest In getting the necessaries Of
life and the raw materials for its in
dustries at reasonable prices. This
latter interest concerns a greater num-
Der of people, though really from a
national economic point of view 1t is
not so prominent as the interest in
| shipping.
The rivers of eastern Norway rose
away above their banks last spring.
The Glommen did the most damage,
carrying away bridges and even
houses. A peculiarly distressing Incl
dent is reported from Elverum. The
water surrounded house in which a
seventy-year-old woman happened to
be all alone at the time. Her son
came and stayed with her. Soon the
water rose so high that neither of
them could get away. Finally the
house was in danger, and he induced
his mother to get ready to 60 to a
small island which still rose above
the water. While she was picking up
some necessary clothing the basement
of the house gave way. and the old
woman was pinned down by a beam
80 that she could not stir. She was
kept In this terrible position for sew
eral hours. without becoming uncon-
scious. Finally two raftsmen came
to her rescue. They cut their way
into the house and cut her loose. and
all four managed to get to the little
island mentioned. The old woman
was so far gone that she soon died.
The boat which the raftsmen used was
so small that 1t could not carry the
three living persons, and for the time
being they had to leave her body uu-
til they had made q trip to the shore.
Miss Molla Bjurstedt of Norway.
women's national tennis title holder.
and Miss Eleanora Sears Of Boston
won the women's doubles champion
ship 4 of Pennsylvania and eastern
states by defeating Miss Dorothy Diss.
ton Of Philadelphia and Miss Suzanna
White of Baltimore in straight sets
The score was Go. 6-1. Paired with
William T. Tilden II of Philadelphia.
Miss Bjurstedt also won the mixed
doubles championship. they defeated
Miss Sarah Myers and Allen Evans.
Jr.. both of Philadelphia, 6-2, s-1.
Miss Bjurstedt captured the singles
championship by defeating Miss Sears
in the final round.
Capt. Road Amundsen has picked
the crew for his next trip to the Arctic
regions. Only one of them is a new"
man. Four Of them were members
of his South Pole expedition, and two
others were members of said expedi-
ton as well as OF the "Gjoa" expedi-
ton through the Northwest passage.
As far as Captain Amundsen could
Judge. these seven men are the most
suitable that can be found in Scandi-