In the Far North

m ■ ''r j£H|F7*;* iSt— t SJiifflMil , II Ji^ fk-M A PART OF THE CITY OF AALESUND AS REBUILT. In the Far North. BY EDWARD P. MACKELPRANG, OF THE SCANDINAVIAN MISSION. We are laboring in the city of Aalesund, located on the western coast of Norway. The city was built some sixty-two years ago on two small islands, connected with a large bridge spanning the water in the narrowest and most convenient place. This city is at present the largest fishing port in Scandinavia. Eighty large fishing boats, owned by different individuals, constitute the fishing fleet. The average price of one of these boats all complete, with fishing net, is about sixty thousand kroner. There are, besides, between five hundred and six hundred motor boats, owned by residents of the city, and then there are eighteen boats used for hunting whales. These go far into the north, sometimes reaching as far as the Arctic ocean. They go out for trips which last from three to four months, generally beginning in April and returning in August, which is the only time that the weather will permit this class of business sport. Each boat generally averages from three to four whales, and from twelve to fifteen men man each boat, and the product of their catch amounts to about thirty

814 IMPROVEMENT ERA. Harbor, Aalesund. thousand kroner for each boat. Fish and oil are exported from this place to Germany, Spain, Italy, England and South and North America, and the annual income for fishing is, on an avearge, about twenty million kroner. The city was destroyed by fire on the 23rd of January, 1904. It broke out at 1:30 in the morning,in a creamery building, and the wind was blowing at such a high rate that nearly all the buildings, which are made mostly of timber, were consumed, so that at five o'clock on the next day, more than twelve thousand people were homeless in a ruined city. Only one life was lost. The people, however, took courage, and for some time lived in boats and in the few houses on the outskirts that escaped the fire. The people received relief immediately from surrounding settlements, and on the 27th of the month two large vessels from Germany, loaded with provisions, and having medical aid, arrived. These remained eight days,and while in the harbor thousands of people went on board for their meals and received beds during the night. People were transported to all parts of Norway free. Large sums of money were likewise sent in from other countries, the United States leading in its generosity to the people, one million five hundred thousand kroner in all being conPhoto by Edward P. Mackelprang. Gieke Church, Erected in the 9th Century. Cemetery, Aalesund, Norway.

IN THE FAR NORTH. 815 contributed. In all, the loss sustained by the fishermen in the destruction of the city was upwards of twenty million kroner, for which there was an insurance of about eleven and a half millions. Eighty thousand dollars out of the donated millions was set apart to erect a hospital. In 1907 the city was practically rebuilt with stone buildings, " MiSf QrflflS^i ■::■ ■ ■' ■:::■ ^g^L.4. AlB^fc&B. m — £ ! ft*, f ' City of Aalesund, Norway, in ruins after the fire, 1904. shown are temporary buildings. The houses and consequently is now in a condition much better than ever, and is today a thriving city. I am indebted for much of this information to the mayor of the city, who kindly furnished me with the items. Our Church work is progressing, and our meetings are fairly well attended. Aalesund, Norway-