Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1916-11-30
Norway.

Norway
.:unnar knudsen. the prime minis
ter, recently delivered an address hi
which he pointed out to his country
men the dangers of class distinction Ia
Norway. Glass after class" seid he,
profession after profession conspire In
unions which have no regard for soci
ETY. Mt large, but only Cor themselves
the midst of muitiudiaous class
struggle which has no parallel. Trade
after trade is organized and intends
TO dictate Its terms to the rest of the
nation. The state cannot submit to
this. It must take up these problems
for solution. and think they can be
solved. Physicians and veterinarians
and officers and all tradesmen and al
most all others--soon the ministers of
the gospel will be the only exception
act as separate classes and make de-
mands In the name OF their profession.
Often they threaten with strikes or
boycctts. But where will this carry
uss What will become Of the society
at large when one class continually
fights another instead OF cooperating?
The state can no longer remain an idle
spectator. Long enough we have had
one class fight. that of the working
men. Society had to call halt on Its
development. Why, then, should 1t not
call halt on the other and equally
pernicious class struggle? The work
ingmen have reproached us on the
charge that we have made special laws
against them. One class struggle Is
just as injurious as another. There
fore 1t Is the duty of the state to In
tervene, and therefore the question
must be brought before the public
mind"
A Christiania dispatch says that q
new industrial city will In couple Of
years make Its appearance on the map
Of Norway. 1t will be located on the
CHAINS ford, about two hours ride
south Of Bodo. Ii has been laid out
for population Of 6,0OO people. or 3
600 workmen and their families and q
smaller number of business men. The
city-to-be will be built up around the
great electric plant which Is being es-
tablished on the ford. Here for the
past two years engineers and workmen
have been ut work on the greatest wa
ter power project under construction
at the present time In Norway. When
completed. the plant will furnish 140.-
600 horse power. but to begin with
only $4,000 horse power will be util-
lied. Turbines of $4,000 horse power
each. the largest yet constructed, will
be used. The work of the power plant
Is now SO far advanced that the build
ing of the factories, In which the cleo
trio current will be utilized, and the
city itself, where the workmen live,
| may be started In the spring. 1t is
expected that manufacturing opera
tons will begin In 1913.
1t Is reported that the celebrated
"Munkekirken" or the Monks chapel"
In Stavanger, will probably be re-
stored. Plans have been drawn for
the restoration, and the necessary
funds have been secured. The Monks
chapel was the private chapel for the
bishop of Stavanger In the days Of TO
manism. Similar chapels are known
to have existed In Bergen, Hamar. and
Oslo but the one In Stavanger Is the
only one that has survived the raw
ages of time. The chapel Is said to be
an architectural gem, with It's richly
ornamental portal and arched windows
and It's decorative details. When re-
stored. the chapel will be used for
marriage services communion services
on week days, and the instruction Of
confirmation classes.
The shipbuilding industry Of Norway
Is growing so rapidly that IL has be-
come difficult to secure sufficient
number of Iaborers and advertisements
for laborers are being published In the
Norwegian papers of America. In
view Of the fact that thousands upon
thousands of Norwegians have left
their native country In the past to
help supply the demand for laborers
In America, 1t is surprising, to say the
least, that the tide seems about to
turn, and the stream Of laborers flow
the other way.
A company which will manufacture
electric automobiles is being organized.
This will be the first factory OF the
kind in Norway.
There In now d shortage In the num-
Der Of applicants for positions In the
postal service Of Norway, owing to
the failure of the government to In
crease the salaries, which, In view Of
the increased cost of living, have be-
come inadequate.