Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1917-04-05
IN FAR NORTHLAND
important Events in Sweden,
Norway and Denmark.
BRIEFS FROM OLD COUNTRY
Interesting Items From the Three
Great kingdoms Of the North, g.
Ieeted for Seandinavlans and
Their Descendants
BY MARTIN w. oDLAND.
Norway,

Norway.
According to the Norwegian-Ameri-
can, trees grown from seed collected
on the American west coast, from Ore
gon to Alaska, will soon contribute
70 the reclamation of the waste forest
areas of Norway. Large quantities Of
seed gathered by Norwegian forestry
experts the past summer are now on
the way to Norway and will be planted
In the spring. "Amtskogmester" A
Smitt of Stavanger, Norway, head of
the expedition, is now on his return
to Norway. His assistant, Wilfr Ga
brielsen. also Of Stavanger, is still in
this country and plans to remain
mere for some time. NORWAY has in
the past pursued the same wasteful
forestry policy as America, and she is
today reaping the results" said Mr.
Gabrielsen in an interview. 1.-The re-
suit OF this policy of forest destruction
Is that the west coast of Norway is
today practically denuded of trees"
continued Mr.. Gabrielsen. much
, work has been done in recent years
IN replanting the waste areas, but as
yet with only partial success" The
work OF refOrestatiOn in western Nor
way is hampered by the fact that the
country has only one kind of native
pine and one kind Of native spruce,
said Mr.. Gabrielsen. Added to this
fact is the circumstance that pine
does not thrive readily on the wind
swept Atlantic coast, unless protected
IN the earlier stages hy growth Of
so-called brush" pine. It was in or
der to overcome these difficulties that
the Norwegian government decided to
send an expedition to America to COL
lect seed from trees grown in localities
where the conditions of weather and
soil resemble most those prevailing in
western Norway. Messrs. Smitt and
Gabrielsen were selected for this en-
terprise, and in June of last year they
came to America on their mission. The
western coast Of America, from north
ern Oregon and as far north as Skag-
way, Alaska, was covered by the two
foresters In their quest. This region
was found to be most similar to west
ern Norway, as regards RAINFALL tenn
perature, velocity of the wind, soil,
and SO forth. The Norwegian forest
ers got into touch with the American
forestry service, and Mr.. Gabrielsen
speaks very highly of the willingness
Of this organization in extending them
every aid in its power. The American
forestry service, he states, is we'll or
ganized and is doing efficient work.
The species of trees from which seed
was gathered were the following:
Douglas fir, Sitka spruce. western
hemlOck, balsam fir. red and yellow
cedar. White and yellow pine seed
were also collected in Montana and
Idaho, but these will be planted in the
interior districts of Norway.
1t is reported that during the fourth
quarter Of 1916 the newspapers of
Christiania sent out 9S6 tons of copies
through the mails as against S41 tons
for the same quarter in 1915. For the
whole year 1904 tons Of newspapers
were sent out through the Christiania
post Office, which was an increase Of
10 per cent on that OF the previous
year. The city circulation swelled the
total for the year 1916 to about 1900
tons. The newspapers Of the whole
country require about 1850 tons Of
paper year. The country produces
about 10000 tons Of paper Of that
kind year. Thus 1t will be seen that
Norway produces ten times as much
paper as the newspapers of the coun-
try need.
A report from Christiania says that
the industrial population of Norway,
which is dependent upon the manu-
features. the mines. and the quarries
Of the country for livelihood. in
creased 81 per cent In the period from
1897 to 1914. while the population Of
the country as a whole increased only
Is per cent. The income of the nation
as whole increased 100 per cent,
while the amount drawn by industrial
workers In wages increased 100 per
cent.
The people Of Bergen show great
enthusiasm over the establishment of
n university in their city. To date
about $4,000 have been subscribed
toward the building OF the institution
and practically all Of this comes from
Bergen people.
Anna Rogstad. the Christiania
school teacher. who some years age
served a brief term in the storthing.
has deserted the liberal party and
gone over to the socialist labor party.
According to press reports the ship
ping people Of Norway forecast an
even greater slump than at present In
Scandinavian emigration. Trade and
employment In Norway have never
been so brisk as today. Skilled work
men are even returning from America
on that account. But after the war
the immense task of reconstrncting
Europe will bring to the three north