Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-04-06
IN FAR NORTHLAND|
important Events In Sweden,
Norway and Denmark.
BRIEFS FROM OLD COUNTRY
Interesting ltems From the Three
Great klnodoms Of the North g.
lectsd for scandInavlans and
Their Descendants.
ey MARTIN w. oDLAND.


-
by MARTIN w. oDLAND.
Denmark.
The Danish West Indies have been
suffering from an industrial depres.
sion and scarcely any money Is in cir
culation in st. Thomas. This Is due
partly to the European war and partly
to the closing of the Panama canal.
The chief industry, says correspond
ent. has always been the supplying OF
coal and water and other necessities
to ships. but this Is now practically
at standstill, particularly because OF
the suspension of the steamship sery-
ice OF the Hamburg American line.
This company gave employment to
large number of laborers and others,
the majority of whom have had to en-
igrate to Santo Domingo or other ag-
ricultural islands In order to make q
livelihood. The Hamburg-American
line has, more than was heretofore re.
allied. been the main support OF the
island, disbursing large sum of
money annually. An extensive system
OF harbor works. with an up-to-date
dock and all modern appliances such
as electrical coal cranes, warehouses
and oil tanks. was recently completed
here. and with the opening of the Pan
anna canal Il was expected that great
trade would develop. But the slides
in the canal have prevented these
hopes from being realized. On the
island of st. Croix the strike which
paralyzed the sugar industry for q
time was serious matter. The island,
very much more so than ST. Thomas,
10 agricultural, and this years produc-
ton of sugar and rum promises to be
exceptional. Following the formation
Of labor union. the laborers on the
sugar estates contended that with the
increased prices for sugar they should
be paid more wages, but this was re.
fused by the planters. Thousands OF
the workers were turned of the es-
tates and fiocked, with personal be-
longings. to the towns of Frederick
sted and Christiansted, where. for the
past month. they have been living In
tents and matched houses and school
buildings. A wage concession has end
ed the strike. Notwithstanding the un-
settled conditions. there have been few
disorders. except for a small amount
OF suspected incendiarism. The gov
eminent has recently passed severaI
bills looking to the improvement OF
the laborers OF both islands. including
the parceling out among them Of small
lots of land under certain conditions
II these measures are carried out they
shouts improve the situation greatly,
says press correspondent.
The population of Denmark Febru.
airy l. 1916. was 2,919.7s6.
Norway.
The Norwegian mission society had
an income of $4,000 crowns I'm 1915
which is somewhat less than its in.
come In 1914.
The Bank of Norway recently re-
ceived 100000 crowns of gold from
Copenhagen. The metal weighed 2h
tons and Is now safely stored In the
bombproof basement of the bank.
Norway's society for the restriction
OF emigration has adopted a new
name-"Ny Jord." which means New
Soir' or New Earth" 1t will also
change its policy somewhat II Ia un.
derstood that it will advocate the col
onization of the interior of the coun.
try, where there Is an abundance oil
new soil" to be utilized. II properly
developed.
DR.. Jorgen Brunchorst, who for six
years has been Norway's representa-.
tive at Stockholm. Sweden, has been
transferred to Rome, where he will
look after his country's interests as
ambassador. DR.. Brunchorst was born
In 1862. For several years he was con
nected with the Bergen museum. be-
ing appointed its director In 1901. He
served i'm the storthing from 1895 to
1898 and from 1903 to 1906. In 1906
he was appointed consul general for
Norway at Havana, Cuba. and the next
year he became a member of Michel.
sens cabinet and continued at his post
when Loveland succeeded Nicholson
as premier DR.. Francis Hagerup
Norway's minister at Copenhagen, will
succeed Dr. Brunchorst at Stockholm
Capt. Road Amundsen is planning
to start on his North pole expedition
next year. according to dispatch
from Christiania to a London paper
The explorer has insisted all along
that he would head an expedition to
the North pole, but On account OF the
many delays the belief has become
quite general that he may never start
at all
During the year 1915 the Norwegian.
American line brought 1856 passen.
gers to New York Only a portion OF
these were Morse immigrants, the
others being for the most part Norwe.
g.an-Americans who visited their
mother country during the past year.
Tho Crcpdip q vi a m A yn aricap limo land