Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-03-16
SUMMARY OF IMPORTANT HAP
PENlNGS IN FAS OFF
NORTHLAND
ITEMS FROM THE OLD HOME
Resume Of the Most Important Events
In Sweden. Norway and Denmark
OF Interest to the scandinavians
In America.
SWEDEN.

calamity. In the diocese Of Herno-
sand the bishop has often permitted
laymen to preach in order that serv-
ices of some kind may be offered.
And of the regular pastors who are
still serving, no less than 81 are more
than sixty-five years old, SO that they
cannot serve much longer. Why is 1t
so difficult to get young men to serve
as ministers? The pay is not liberal.
But this is not all. The most serious
trouble is that an intelligent and at
the same time conscientious young
man of our day finds 1t exceedingly
difficult to square his conscience with
the dogmatic demands of the orthodox
church. Strange though it may
who cannot enter the ministry of the
state church of Sweden for con-
science sake.
The Swedish steamship companies
running regular lines have raised
their rates 20 per cent. making to-
tai raise Of so per cent since the be-
ginning of the war. The regular lines
are in a difficult position. The tramp
steamers are free to charge as much
as they please, and in some instances
they have raised their rates 400 per
cent during the war. The regular
lines are not free. They have to sup
ply the Industries of the country at
rates which the industries can stand.
Not only the running expenses are
much higher than before, but the in
surance rates have gone up by leaps
and bounds on account of the risks
caused by the warships of the belliger-
ents.
Sweden imports about FIVE tons of
saccharine annually. This CORE
spends to 3,025 tons of raw sugar or
2,750 tons of refined sugar. The value
of the latter is about s260.000. 1t
takes 10000 tons of sugar beets to
produce that much sugar. In turn, 1t
takes 1850 acres to produce 10000
tons of beets. II domestic sugar had
been used in place of the five tons of
saccharine the government tax ON it
would have been s11s,000. These fig
ures were taken from report made
by special committee of experts.
The king and the queen have con-
scented to act as protectors of the
Swedish Red Cross, and the duchess
of Vastergotland has accepted the po-
sition of first honorary member of the
organization. The president, Prince
Carl, turned over to the organization
$1,000 which he cleared on the sale
of a book on THE Royal Family" A
donation of $4,000 has also been re-
ceived from person who has with
held his name from the public.
The Swedish sugar trust has de-
cided to pay about 81 per acre more
than the rates fixed in the contracts
between the sugar beet growers and
the trust The trust had to take this
step on account OF the increased cost
Of fertilizers caused by the war.
A city charter was granted to the
municipality Of Trollhattan at the be-
ginning of the new year. The event
was hailed with great Joy by the peo-
pie, and New Years night was spent
in public demonstrations of different
kinds. The newborn city has a pop
ulation of $4,000.
Prof. Gilbert Murray of Oxford uni.
versity, noted authority on Greek lit
erature, will go to Sweden to lay the
British view of the war before stu
dents at the invitation of the Swedish
Union of Student societies. His mis-
sion probably will extend to Norway
and Denmark.
Sweden will be permitted to import
larger supplies of coal from Great
Britain than hitherto, under a fresh
arrangement with the British govern
ment. In return, Sweden has consent
ed to export certain articles. including
pit props, to Great Britain. Sweden
also will transmit goods for Russia.
The suburb OF Bromma was incor-
porated into the city of Stockholm at
the beginning Of the year, making the
population OF the capital about 100000
A dispatch from Stockholm says
Swedish importers have been notified
that export OF wooden goods from Ger
many will be stopped soon owing to
lack of raw material.
The railway department has ordered
400 new railway cars from Swedish
factories.
II is reported that an Arrangement
OF the trouble between Sweden and
Great Britain regarding Atlantic par
cel-post traffic soon will be completed.
1t is also understood that the British.
Russian parcel-post mail held up by
Sweden and now stored at Gothen-
burg. will be released as soon as the
Swedish-American line steamship
Stockholm, now en- route to New York,
has passed the British isles.
Joseph Kallman. shipping broker
in Gothenburg. donated $2,700 to the
lifeboat fund of the press OF Gothen-
burg.
William Ericsson, an engineer In
Gothenburg. has been making expert
ments with plants that can be raised
in Sweden In order to produce some
substitute for rubber. In view OF the
short time spent on this work tho re-
suits are very promising. The plants
most suitable for the production of ar
tificial rubber belong to the family NJ