Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-10-12
NaHlta,s.

81 8 n
According to Morse writsFs, the Co..
pletion of the Russian railroad to the
Murman coast. which adjotns Norway
on the Arctic coast, will be Of much
Importance to the latter country. The
Thurman railroad will have Its termi-
nal ut Semenoya. only "A hours dir
lance from Nardo, the principal port
of northern Norway. The distance
from Semenova to Petrograd Is two
days travel. The region travarsed by
the line has much beautiful scenery.
and 1t Is believed that after the war
many Russian tourists will take the
route from Petrograd to the Murmafi
coast, thence to yardo and down the
coast Of Norway. With this possible
ity In mind Norwegian tourist compa-
MES are laying plans for the establish
ment of line of fast steamers to con-
meet Vardo with the Thurman port.
A Christiania news report says that
q new Morse company has recently
been organized for the purpose of de-
veloping the Spitzbergen coal fields. II
has purchased the properties Of two
other companies on the islands, with
estimated coal deposits amounting TO
6OO,OO0,0 900 tons. The estimated an
nual production Is 100000 tons. This
Ia the third large Norwegian company
organized within recent time for the
purpose Of exploiting the coal wealth
Of the Spitzbergen islands. The Nor
wegian promoters base their hope Of
success largely upon the likelihood of
the price remaining at high figure
even after the war. At the present
time the price liz almost prohibitive.
The Norwegian government, says q
dispatch, has issued yellow book"
reviewing the position OF the country
In relation to the European belliger-
ents from the beginning of the war I'M
til May this year. The book lis SINH
lar to publications issued by the yari-
Gus governments Of Europe justifylng
their course in relation to the war.
An important chapter OF the hook
deals with the relation of Norwegian
shipping to the war upon the sea, and
the steps taken Jointly by the Norwe-
gian, Swedish and Danish governments
to preserve their neutrality.
King Haakon Of Norway, speaking
at dinner given to the Swedish and
Danish ministers of state In Chris
tiania, declared that the Scandinavian
nations We're united I'm their ire to
| remain neutral. The dinner at which
the king spoke was given In connection
with conferences held ut the Nor
| wegian capital by the Scandinavian
| ministers of state. King Haakon said
that the conferences were only intend
ed to protect Scandinavian interests.
| The meetings were the outcome of the
earlier meeting by the kings of Den
mark, Norway and Sweden mt Malmo,
ut which 1t was decided that the three
nations should cooperate to safeguard
their rights as neutral states.
The temperance people of Norway
have raised about 5000 for defraying
the expenses Of the libel suit Of their
leader, Sven Aarrestad, who lost the
case. He said, among other things,
that one-fifth Of the men OF the Nor
| wegian capital shorten their lives by
drink. A newspaper man called Aar-
restad liar, and the courts dismissed
the case. The temperance people of
the country maintain that Aarrestad
| only told an unpleasant truth.
1t IL reported from Bergen that that
city has secured options on four great
water-power properties, which when
| fully developed will yield total Of
90, 900 horse power. The first Is at
Teigdal, $4,000 horse power; the sec
ond at Eksingdal. $4,000 horse power |;
the third In the Torfin water course,
$1,000 horse power, and the fourth In
the Matr water course, 100000 horse
power.
Lykke Seest, Norwegian play
| wright, has organized company for
the production of moving picture films
In Norway. Norwegian moving picture
concerns have paid over million
crowns per year to foreign film COM
panies for their productions, and it Is
believed that Norway ought to pro-
duce her own films.
The new power station at Lilleham-
| mer is going to supply the farming
communities of Ringsaker and Mas.
Hedemarken, with electric energy.
Wires are to be run up to every house.
Those districts require no less than
$4,000 poles for stringing the wires.
The rates will be the lowest In the
country.
The South Pacific Whaling company
has declared dividends of 12J per cent
during the past nine months. Of course
stock In this company Is not for sale
being even more remunerative than