The Cook County news-herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Cook County, Minn.) 1909-current, 1916-08-30
SUMMARY OF. IMPORTANT HAP.
PENiNos IN FAR OFF
NoRrHLAND.
ITEMS FROM THE OLD HOME
Resume Of the Most important Events
In Sweden, Norway and Denmark
OF Interest 70 the SeandInaviane
In America.
NORWAY.

u1OAueut. Inc great emlSr0IlO0 OF
Norwegians to the United States
which. during the past so years has
drained the country of young labor
ers and girls from the farms, has
never made itself felt so much as in
the last two years while Norway has
been endeavOring to become more and
more self-supporting and more indie
pendent Of foreign imports. Although
since the outbreak ct the war indus
tries have grown in all parts of the
country, this is not enough. Farming
must be raised to higher standard
md more acreage devoted to the rails
ng of grain crops. The Norwegian
government Is trying to assist the
progress of farming by the granting of
cheap loans to farmers and providing
them with inexpensive lands for Gull
tivation. Although the number of
farmers has increased recently, diff
culties have arisen owing to the lack
OF farmhands, many of whom still
prefer to seek new homes in Americo,
although wages for farmhands of both
sexes are almost as high as they are
IN the United States and better than
anywhere else in Europe. The press
all over the country is devoting much
attention to this subject and strong ef-
forts are being made to change the
current of migration and bring back
from America to Norway at least some
of the farm laborers and women en-
gagged In agricultural pursuits who
have In recent times left Norway. The
Idea at beginning campaign in Amer
lea with the object Of making young
Norwegfans there acquainted with the
promising prospects in their own coun-
try Is rapidly spreading. One society
with the title of New Land has been
In existence some time with this pur-
pose in view and also for providing
land to be farmed by peasant youths
desiring to start for themselves. An
other scheme has been started by big
industrial man who needs thousands
OF men for his water power enter
prises with the view of inducing the
various industries to appoint agents
In America to hire Norwegians there
for employment in Norway and to as
s1st them to return to their native land.
The most recent government census
shows that of the population of $780,
goo, some 10000 are returned Norwe-
CLAN Americans, 100 of whom were
born in the United States. The ma
jority Of these people have taken up
farming on their own account.
Americans who arrived in Scandina-
via recently on the steamer Bergens-
ford told of decidedly unique cele.
bration Of the Fourth of July on board
that vessel. On the third Of July the
Bergensfjord was "captured" by
British cruiser and escorted to Kirk
wall for the customary examination of
cargo and passengers. Despite the
fact that they were to be "captives'
over the Fourth in British harbor
the passengers decided to hold a fitting
celebration and to read anew the Dec
Aration of Independence. All the neu-
trails on board decided to Join the
Americans, and Captain Irgens of the
Bergensfjord appointed a committee to
arrange everything. The hour set for
the ceremonies was eleven o'clock the
morning of the Fourth. It was found
at that time, however, that the British
authorities required the presence of all
nrst-class passengers, and the reading
of the Declaration of Independence
was postponed until two o'clock. AT
this hour the ceremonies were begun
anew. America" was sung, a short
prayer was offered and then Captain
1rgens arose. II regret very much"
he announced. 'but the Declaration of
Independence must again be postponed
as the British authorities require the
presence of the second-class passen-
gers in their dining ROOM" At three
O'Clock the ships company assembled
again to hear proclaimed the PRINCIPLES
of free and independent people. But
again Captain Irgens arose. II regret
again to have to announce q further
postponement of the Declaration of In
dependence, for the British authori-
ties, who do not recognize the Fourth
Of July as holiday, say they must
have the third-class passengers in their
dining room at once" Forty-five min
utes later the British authorities had
concluded their examination of the
neutrals and this time the declaration
was read amid great enthusiasm. The
Bergensfjord, however, and the Amer
leans aboard her, remained In "can-
tlvtty" until the afternoon of the fifth.
The Norwegian steamer Gaute. the
second of three vessels laid down at De-
troit for Norwegian interests, sailed
from! the yards of her builders in the
Detroit river yesterday for New York.
via the Welland canal. Upon arrival.
at New York several thousand tons Of
relief supplies for Belgian war suffer-
ers will be taken aboard. The first
Norwegian vessel built In Detroit was
the Gisela, which departed some time
ago. A third, the Vestland. will he
turned over to her mAatav T., rn,,,