Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1917-03-08
I'M FAR NORTHlIlND|
Important Events h Sweden,
Norway and Denmark.
BRIEFS FROM OLD COUNTRY
~ MARTIN W. oDLAND.


~
ny MARTIN w. oDIAND.
Norway.
A Morse correspondent writes that
In spite of the fact that the country IN
well supplied with food ut the present
time, the Norwegian authorities are
laying plans for nm extensive Increase
Of the agricultural production Of Nor
way the coming year. Minister Nell
bye. member OF the Norwegian gov
crnment, stated recently In nm address
ut Bergen that the country has nearly
two million acres of waste land en-
pable Of cultivation. by the addition
Of this area of new land, the total Of
ground under cultivation In Norway
would reach five million acres. In re-
cent years about 2S,000 acres per year
have been added to the farm lands Of
the country. Minister Mellbye be-
iieves that the government should use
part OF the war-profits tax In aid Of
land reclamation, In the form Of loans
to farmers. The money thus expend-
ed would come hack to the state and
the work accomplished would be VI
lasting benefit. The price OF fodder
and Of fertilizers In Norway has In.
creased 80 per cent since the begin
ming Of the war. but In the meanwhile
the price of meat has Increased l0O
per cent and pork even more. The
farmer Is thus enabled To pay more
for labor than before. II Is believed
that the government will require farm
ers to plant fixed areas OF potatoes
next spring. Aid will be extended In
the purchase Of pigs and buying fodder
by small farmers. The government
may also decide to condemn land suit
able for the cultivation OF potatoes and
vegetables. for the benefit Of families
that have no ground OF their own.
According to press reports, repre-,
sentatives Of Morse papermakers are
of the opinion that the expectation 81
paper from Norway to America vii
soon be resumed. Norway's paper In
dustry was one of the Industries that
were hard hit by the war. Restric'
tons upon the consumption Of paper
were adopted by many of the bellig
erent countries, principally In Eng.
land, which had been heavy importer
OF Norwegian paper. Furthermore,
the high price Of pulp made II more
profitable for the producers to sell the
~. Int
paper. The result was that about 10
paper-mills closed down. Recently
however, the Norwegian manufacture
ers have begun to look into the matter
of resuming the export business to
America. The prevailing high prices
for paper In America promise profit
able market.
A Norwegian OF high
standing has published an anonymous
communication In leading Norwegian.
American newspapers advising against
big celebrations of the 18th of May
In the United States this year. He
expresses the belief that In view of
tions may be misunderstood by Amer
leans this year. The Sknndinaven OF
Chicago and the Minneapolis Tidende
indorse the position taken by the gem
tleman In question.
There IL considerable agitation In
Norway for coalition cabinet, repre-
senting all OF the political parties, to
take the place Of the present radical
cabinet, headed by Gunnar Knudsen.
The premier has UP to the present
time opposed the formation OF such q
cabinet, on the grounds that his party
has had "A program OF radical reforms
to carry out, but, IL the present agi-
tation continues and gains force, he
will doubtless submit to the pressure
Prof. Jorgen Alexander Kundtson OF
the University Of Norway died recent.
iy at the age Of sixty-foar. He had an
international reputation ms an author.
ity on Assyriology, and since 1907 has
been professor OF Semitic languages al
the university. His principal literary
work IL "Assyrian Prayers to the Sun
Cod" and was published at Leipzig
In 1892.
The special restrictions upon the ex-
portation Of coal to Norway have been
removed by the government OF GREET
Britain, In consideration Of certain
concessions to England by the Norwe-
gian government. The shutting of OF
the British coal supply was a very Sc
rious matter TO the people Of Norway.
Farmers In the vicinity of Chris.
tiania are considering the ACCESSIBILITY
Of establishing cooperative slaugh-
H.r house at the capital city.
Consul Jonas Lied has arrived In
America and will deliver series Of
lectures here on Russia and Sibenta.
He Ia contemplating an expedition to
Siberia next year.
The establishment Of 4 steamship
line between Norway and Holland II
under consideration by the Norwegian