Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1917-03-29

uition or Norway's forests and Tor the
preparation of plans for developing
the same. Reforestation has become
4 matter OF great Importance for Nor
way, for ii Is realized that In the flu
ture her forests must be one OF her
most valuable assets. ms they have
been In the past. In 1907 the value
of Norway's forests was placed MT 40O..
100000 crowns, In 1900 ut O,00O, 600
crowns, and today their value must
be far greater still.
The catch OF whale by Norwegian
whalers wassno ms large In 1915 us II
was prior to the outbreak OF the war.
This was due to difficulties brought
on by the war and to the transfer of
vessels formerly used for whaling into
the freight service. Nevertheless nS
per cent OF the total production OF
whale OH In 1915 was produced by the
Norsemen.
The residents Of Larefjorti were cut
of from the rest OF the world for sew
eral weeks during January, and ac-
cording to reports from there the
blame was attached in part to the gov
eminent.
The government has set aside
5000 crowns for the royal park at
Christiania In 1917.
Sweden.
The people OF Sweden are immense
ly Interested In the Russian revolt, on
account OF the bearing Il may have
on the relations between Sweden and
Russia. As In well known. the rela.
tons between the two countries have
been somewhat strained ever since
Russia took Finland from Sweden.
Now, according to Reuters corre-
spondent, writing. from sHelsingfora.
Russia, under Its new democratic form
OF government. may grant home rule
to Finland. which would be exceeding
ly gratifying to the Swedes. for they
| look upon the people OF Finland %
their brothers, and have sympathixed
with them during the years Of Russian
oppression. The correspondent says
that the Finnish diet will be convened
shortly and asked to establish n gov
eminent possessing the full confidence
Of the people. General zein, governor
Of Finland under the old regime, has
been sent to Petrograd as a prisoner
People throughout the country are
jubilant over the change and the situ.
alton everywhere Is peaceful.
Statistics recently published ms Ia
financial conditions of Sweden at the
close of last year show that the people
have been very thrifty and are In
better financial circumstances than
they were year ago. The banks
show balance of 579O00.O00 crowns,
with debts aggregating l0S,OO0, 600
crowns. The past year was a record
breaking period for the life insurance
companies The Thule company hns
81, 100000 crowns to Its credit, rec.
ord never paralleled before by any
Swedish life insurance company. The
national telephone system has added
$4,000 instruments to Its equipment,
the Stockholm system having added
10000 telephones during the year Ia
Its equipment.
An Amsterdam dispatch says the
Dutch papers give prominence to m
article by Count Won Reventlow on thu
position Of Sweden. which il reprint
ed from the Berlin Tages Zeitung
Count Won Reventlow contends Great
R-itain Is trying to influence the nj
fairs Of the neutral countries by In
creasing the number of her consuls
and concludes: "a decision canno
await with platonic interest the de
velopment Of the future attitude Of
Sweden toward the demands OF tn,
entente, but regards II with a watch
full eye. The future attitude Of Swe
den is Of the highest direct import
ance I'm regard to the war"
Borings for coal will soon be under
taken In Shame. The operations will
begin Mt Engelholm, where the prepa
rations are already under way. II vii
be necessary Mt this place to remove
three hundred feet Of earth, but this
will not entail much trouble, Il II
thought. The government has appro
priated 100000 crowns to help defrny
the expense Of the explorations. II Is
expected that i'm addition to coal de-
posits layers Of salt will also be un'
covered.
At the beginning Of the year Swe
den is reported to have had ~ wire
less stations namely: Seven station
AIRY coast stations, IS on board war
ships, and 43 on board merchant
! ships.
| Both chambers of the riksdak have
under consideration motions TO pro-
vide for q steam ferryboat service be-
tween Gothenburg and Fredrikshavn.
81