Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-08-03
SCANDINAVIAN COUNTRIES.
Rv Arthur E. Mann.

| kOulleu IIeSS ptdIl Correspondents
| Stockholm, Sweden, Aug. 3.-During
the last year the Scandinavian countries
Norway, Sweden and Denmark, have
come to unanimous agreement on the
late General Sherman's s famous remark,
but have appended "for neutrals." "
Economically, Scandinavia, during
the last year has been brought to the
point where she faces the prospect of
! the poor-house if peace does not come
within twelve months. Short of food
particularly bread and potatoes; with
coal being sold by the lump and lacking
raw material such as iron and textile
fibres to keep her factories running;
the cry of the people for some time past
has been: "Peace and bread!' and
"Down with the blockades! -
In Denmark where the generation of
electricity requires the use of coal, ele-
vator service has been suspended in
most of tn apartments, hotels and Off
ees. All cafes and restaurants are OBJ
liged by the government, to close at
eleven at night in order to save elec.
trio light; the number of street lights
have been greatly diminished and all
theatres and movies houses close at ten
o. CLOCK. The cafe hours are particular.
ly obnoxious to the people as clubs are
practically unknown in Denmark and
the cafe life is therefore an important
activity.
In Sweden and Norway, where much
of the electricity is generated by water
power, the closing hours are later than
in Denmark, and one doesn't have to
climb stairs as much.
Coal Shortage Great.
In Denmark coal shortage has fore
ed the government 70 prohibit the serv
ing Of hot dishes in hotels and restaur-
ants after nine O'Clock at night Train
service throughout Scandinavia has
been reduced. During the latter part of
the past winter wood was burned by
many of the householders, and all this
spring and summer owners of timber
land have been cutting and shipping
fire wood to the cities and towns.
Gasoline, tires, lubricating oils, are
three related products which the com
bination of allied German submarine
attacks have made very scarce in Scan
dinavia Taxi fares have risen and the
number of cabs on the streets dimin-
ished. In Copenhagen, Denmark, it is
forbidden to hire taxi to take one
beyond the city limits and here it is
optional with the company whether to
accept such an erder from passenger
Among other importations, iron for
is extremely scarce as
are textile fibres such as cotton and
linen. Many of the factories and mills |
in Scandinavia have been forced to cut
down their weekly production in order |
to run full day and in many cases a |
number of workmen have |
been discharged.
Wood Growing Scarcer.
But it is the food situation which |
has been worrying Scandinavia the most |
for the last six months. Bread cards |
have long been in use througout Scan
linavia. In Denmark the proportion OF |
black bread to white on the cards
IS two to one and in Sweden there is
no white bread except for invalids and
the sick. Sugar cards are also required
except in hotels and cafes where the /
management handles the pasteboards.
The Allied bloeade has very greatly |
limited the importation into Seandina
via of livestock fodder, of which most
# that used before the war vas i'm
,orted. In consequence there has beer
!. decrease in the amount of meat cattle
md milk cattle, the latter decline af-
;ecting the supply of milk and butter
md cheese.
Potatoes, the importation of which
has practically ceased, have for many
weeks been valuable luxury The ho
els. cafes and better class of pensions
till have them daily, principally be
.ause they either have stocks on hand