The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1916-08-05

to be used considerably for the latter.
purpose. The most remarkable cleo.
trio power plant In the country Is the
one recently completed Mt Porjus. In
northern Lapland, IL miles north Of
the polar circle. II Is situated in
remote and inhospitable region Of eter-
nal snow and In Its construction the
Swedish engineers had extraordinary
difficulties to overcome. Technical men
say that these difficulties were met In
brilliant manner and the station ranks
as masterpiece Of engineering skill.
Most OF the electrical energy produced
by the many waterfalls of Sweden Is
used for ordinary purposes, as light
Ing or motive power. Ninety per cent
of the towns of Sweden have electric
stations, nearly all run by water power.
The use Of electricity in the reduction
OF iron ore has been enormously ex-
tended during the last five years and Is
revolutionizing conditions In northern
Sweden. A beginning has Been made
with electricity as the motive power
for railroad engines and the visitor
that nowadays travels as far north as
Riksgransen, the northernmost railroad
point In the world, will find here an
equipment for hauling passenger and
freight cars that appear to be exactly
like that which he finds on the great
lines entering New York. But Riks-
gransen lies about 200 miles north Of
the polar circle. At this point and for
100 miles the electrification of the Swe-
dish state railroads has been complet-
ed. Power is supplied by the Porjus
plant. 1t Is the intention of the state
and privately owned railroads to ex-
tend the electrification lines as fast
as possible. There is one feature Of
the rapidly advancing electrifcation Of
Swedish industry that has a peculiar
interest, namely, the use of electricity
as motive power in agriculture. The
other day there came petition before
the Swedish rigsdag that was very in
teresting and significant The petition
ers, who are farmers in the district Of
Skaraborg in the province Of Vester-
gotland, district, by the way. that
gave nearly all the original settlers to
some Of the larger Swedish communir
ties in Minnesota, prayed that the gov
possible the electric cables from the
Trollhattan station and make the en-
ergy available for all farmers in the
district. In order that farmers Of less
means should also be able to have
electricity for implements and other
machines on the farm the farmers
asked that the rigsdag create fund
out of which loans running for 20 years
at from 2 to 3 per cent interest could
be secured, the loans to be used to
build lines to the separate farms and
to secure motors and machinery. The
farmers justified their petition by rea-
| sons that prove them to be remarkably
enterprising Ind foresighted.
A dispatch from Stockholm says that,
thanks to the Indulgence of friendly
government officials and the co-opera-
ton Of the British consulate in Stock
holm, the difficulties, of continuing
trade with America under the new
| Swedish war trade act temporarily, at
least, have been overcome. The new
law specifically prohibits anyone in
Sweden from entering into agreements
| with foreign powers covering the dis
position of goods imported into this
country, and was ostensibly retail
atory act against the British blockade
| in the North sea. In actual operation,
however, ii was discovered quickly that
the law really favored England and
| threatened to shut off fall trade with
America. The principle behind these
conditions was that belligerent ma
ton had perfect right to- demand
| the promise that no exported goods
should fall into the hands of an enemy
country. Thus the commission has not
| hesitated to extend such promises to
by Sweden from English merchants.
But the Swedish government holds that
Great Britain has no right under pre-
| text of international law to demand
guaranty from Sweden covering goods
| imported into this country from an
other neutral country-particularl the
United States. Great Britain absolute
| ~ TelustS W iet my SoOuo phSo INV
Sweden or any other Scandinavian
country from the United States or any
other place, without this specific guar
anty. With the Swedish government
refusing to give such guarantees under
| the new act, and Great Britain's navy
shutting Off all imports not covered by
guarantees, trade with America seemed
in bad way. After studying the law
in detail, however, 1t has been decided
1t Is elastic enough to permit tempo
| rarily a system of evasion which works
| this way: Instead of making an agree
ment with the British government, the
| importer here swears to the British
form of guaranty before Swedish no
| tary public. He then goes to the Brit
| ish consulate and there the signature
Of the Swedish notary Is certified.
Then the declaration is sent to the
agents of the shipping line In London
and he applies for the import license
from the British authorities.
| The rigsdag has completed the bud
| not FOR tho next f1scaI wear II calls