Scandinavian American. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1945-1958, 1950-12-21
Denmark
Greenland

$4,000 km2 $4,000 So. miles,
Of these, 10000 km2 Ola, 500
SO. miles, are made up of coastal
tracts; the islands along the coas.
aggregate 44,800 km2 (17,50O SO.
miles, while the inland ice covers
1888, 200 km2 Cos, 100 SO. miles,.
At the census of 1915, 21,3S4
human beings altogether were liv-
ing in Greenland; of these, $50
were Europeans and 20,815 natives.
The Europeans were all engaged
in administration, the church or
educational work, in commerce, in
the coalmines and the cryolite
quarries. The majority of the ma
tives support themselves by WORK
! ing on their own in various trades
such as hunting, fishing, etc. An
important item of export from
Greenland is cryolite, which con-
stitutes a useful raw material in
various industries, as for instance,
that of aluminium production 9th
er articles of export are sailed or
dried Goldfish, whale blubber, other
fishery products, hides and furs,
particularly fox and polar bear
furs. The total exports from
Greenland amounted in 1947 to
some Is mill. kr.-The entire trade
on Greenland is monopolized AMI
administered by the Danish State
through Den kgl. grenlandske
Handel (The Royal Greenland
Trading Company, and as far as
the cryolite exploitation is con-
cerned, through the Cryolite Com
pany Oresund.
All matters relating to the adj
ministration of Greenland belong
under the Danish Prime Minister'S
Department.
Local administration is carried
out by Sheriffs in South and North
Greenland and by an Inspector for
East Greenland. Besides, there is
an administrator at each colony. |
The Greenlanders themselves set |
up consultative assemblies.
Danish Activities in Greenland
The work of Denmark in Green
land includes the colonization ot
the country, properly speaking,
and the development which was
thereby initiated, and the numer-
Gus and important expeditions
which have been sent from Den
mark to explore the geography,
nature and population of Green
land. These two fields of action,
however, cannot be considered sep
as the colonization and the
work of scientifict exploration
have often worked hand in hand in
the simultaneous invading and OPP
ening up new territories.
AS early as in the year 982 the
Norsemen on their voyages across
the North Atlantic had reached
and there established
themselves. The colonization of
more modern times dates back in
the first place of the voyage to
made by the priest Hans
Egede in 1921.
The start thus made for the con-
solidation of Danish influence in
Greenland has undoubtedly been of
great benefit to the Eskimo pop
ulation of Greenland as the Dan
oh eyoyarpp,apt baS aIvrayc co,,Cbt
to protect the population against
the exploitation and harmful social
influences to which so many prim-
tive peoples have been subjected
when the territories inhabited by
hem fell under the dominion of
he white man. Nowadays these
activities are exercised by "Gren-
ands Styrelso" (the Greenland Of
fice) which also controls the trade
With Greenland: and the develop
ment and progress attained in
materially and cultur-
ally. bear witness to the favorable
results produced by this work
This result has been attained by
among other means-making
a forbidden country
closed to the Danish and foreigners
alike.
The scientific exploration of
Greenland has been carried on not
only by Danes but also by a grea.
of foreign explorers and
scientists. Nevertheless, it may
exaggeration be said that
in the matter of really systemat-