Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1916-06-22
Norway.


In 1918 the total of freights carried
by Norway's ships in foreign trade
was about $5S,563, 900, while the total
value of all crops was $60,000,0 600 and
that of fisheries $14,50O,0OO. The off,
cial figures for 1914 and 1915 are not
at hand yet, but while the value of
the crops has probably been enhanced
by rs to 80 per cent, the freights for
1918 amount to at least four times as
much as those OF normal years, and
the proceeds Of the fisheries probably
to more than twice as much as for
1913. The prominence of shipping
among the industries of Norway dates
far back, but 1t was the Crimean war
that brought II up to the position 1t
now occupies. The high freights dur
ing that war laid the base of many
comparatively great fortunes in the
coast towns of Norway. Later seri-
GUS crisis came when the sailing YES
sells went out of date and had to be
replaced with steamers. Many a Nor
wegian ship owner lost all he had.
This change had, however. been &C.
complished before the present war.
The Norwegian merchant feet is to
a great extent dependent on the inter-
national market; only one-twelfth of
1t can find employment in the traffic
to and from the mother country. Be-
cause Of this international character
OF the shipping Norwegian ship own
6nrinO hn - "a
war felt very nervous. Their prop
erty was liable to destruction while
the belligerents seemed to ignore all
the international rules formerly gov
erning the position of neutrals And
the situation Of the international trade
that followed the declaration of war
seemed to augur Ill for anything like
a repetition of the state Of affairs dur.
ing the Crimean war. BY and by tho
world began to fit itself to the new
state OF things, confidence returned,
and the exchange of goods between
nations found new ways and means.
The worlds tonnage has been reduced
by some rs per cent, about ten million
tons-mostly German and Austrian
ships, which would Immediately be
captured by the enemy II they went
to sea. To this reduction must be
added the many ships destroyed by
mines and submarines. This state of
affairs resulted in the high freights
that have brought so many millions
Of dollars to Norway. though. at the
same time. everything has become
very expensive, as there are few ar
ticles outside of fish and wood Of
which the supply within the country
is large enough to cover the demand.
Next to the shipping interest in Nor.
ways international affairs comes the
interest in getting the necessaries of
life and the raw materials for its In
dustries at reasonable prices. This
latter interest concerns greater num-
Der of people, though really from a
national economic point of view It is
not so prominent as the interest In
shipping.
The rivers of eastern Norway rose
away above their banks last spring.
The Glommen did the most damage,
carrying away bridges and even
houses. A peculiarly distressing Incl
dent is reported from Elverum. The
water surrounded house In which a
seventy-year-old woman happened to
be all alone at the time. Her son
came and stayed with her. Soon the
water rose so high that neither of
them could get away. Finally the
house was in danger. and he induced
his mother to get ready to 60 to a
small island which still rose above
the water. While she was picking up
some necessary clothing the basement
of the house gave way, and the old
woman was pinned down by a beam
so that she could not stir. She was
kept in this terrible position for sew.
eral hours. without becoming uncon.
scious. Finally two raftsmen came
to her rescue. They cut their way
into the house and cut her loose, and
all four managed to get to the little
island mentioned. The old woman
was so far gone that she soon died.
The boat which the raftsmen used was
so small that 1t could not carry the
three living persons. and for the time
being they had to leave her body un-
til they had made a trip to the shore.
Miss Molla Bjurstedt of Norway.
women's national tennis title holder.
and Miss Eleanora Sears of Boston
won the women's doubles champion
ship of Pennsylvania and eastern
states by defeating Miss Dorothy Diss-
ton Of Philadelphia and Miss Susanna
White of Baltimore In straight sets.
The score was Go. 6-1. Paired with
William T. Tilden II of Philadelphia.
Miss Bjurstedt also won the mixed
doubles championship. They defeated
Miss Sarah Myers and Allen Evans.
Jr.. both of Philadelphia, 60, Ell.
Miss Bjurstedt captured the singles
championship by defeating Miss Sears
in the final round.
Capt. Road Amundsen has picked
the crew for his next trip to the Arctic
regions. Only one Of them is a new"
man. Four of them were members
of his South Pole expedition, and two
others were members of said expedi.
ton as well as Of the "Gjoa" expedi.
tion through the Northwest passage.
As far as. Captain Amundsen could
Judge. these seven men are the most
suitable that can be found in Scandi-