SWEDEN 1141 



of 1911 a sum of 32,611,111 had been sunk in the railways, chiefly obtained by loans. 

 Thus about 96 % of the national debt money has been utilised for railways. 



Communications. The government owns 2,830 miles of the railways, and 5,903 miles 

 belong to private companies. The new "inland line.'/ Ostersund (Jemtland) to Porjus 

 (Lapland) is being pushed forward and the first section, Ostersund to Strom (Angermanland) 

 is finished, as well as the last section, Gellivara to Porjus, where large water-power works 

 are being erected. The second section, from Strom northward, has been started towards the 

 Angerman river. Another important link in the chain pf railways has been completed, 

 viz.: the Boden-Morjarv-Lapptrask, which will be extended to Haparanda on the border of 

 Finland. A connecting link between the "inland line" and the central line has been decided 

 upon, viz.: the Sveg-Ostersund section. An important project to connect the ports along 

 the Gulf of Bothnia with an East Coast line, from Gefle up to Hernosand, is considered to be 

 financially guaranteed during 1913. When these lines are completed many lovely parts of 

 northern Sweden will be accessible to the tourist. Even now the Lapland express carries in- 

 creasing numbers of travellers to the Lapland rivers and lakes and the Abisko tourist station. 

 Work on the electrification of the Kiruna to Riksgransen (Norwegian frontier) has begun. 

 The power will be obtained from the Porjus electric power station. 



The work of deepening and widening the Trollhattan canal has begun and it is estimated 

 that it will be concluded in 1915. The depth will be four metres. The Tisnare canal, 

 extending in all about 15 miles, and linking together the lakes along the border between 

 Ostergotland and Sodermanland counties with Lake Tisnaren, was opened in September 

 1912. A new canal, from Nykoping Harbour to the lakes in the county of Sodermanland, 

 has been in course of construction during the last few years. The government purchased 

 in 1912 the Sodertelje canal, which may be deepened to five metres. The harbours of Stock- 

 holm and Gothenburg have been extended, and further developments have been decided 

 upon. Several new harbours for fishing fleets are in course of construction along the West 

 Coast. A new dry dock at Malmo is nearly completed. 



As regards telegraphic communication, a Swedish syndicate has applied to the govern- 

 ment for a concession to erect a Marconi wireless station in southern Sweden, chiefly intended 

 for communication with a station in Great Britain and transmission thence to America. 

 The authorities however do not favour the granting of a concession to any specific company, 

 but prefer to make the best possible arrangements for wireless with other countries. 



Constitution, Government and Administration. The parliament (Riksdag) consists 

 of two chambers. The electoral reform of 1909 has considerably widened the franchise 

 and introduced a system of proportional representation. Under it the members of the 

 first chamber are now elected for six years, a sixth part of the house being renewed every 

 year. The census of eligibility is lowered to either real property to the value of 50,000 

 kronor (2,750) or an annual income of 3,000 kronor (165) on which taxes have been 

 paid. The members receive the same salary as members of the second chamber, 1,200 

 kronor (66) per annum. For the elections to the second chamber the country is 

 divided into 56 great electoral districts with 3 to 7 representatives each, all elected pro- 

 portionally. The former distinction between towns and rural constituencies is abol- 

 ished. The three greater towns, Stockholm, Gothenburg and Malmo, however, form 

 separate constituencies, and five other towns are aggregated in two constituencies; for 

 the rest, towns and rural constituencies poll together. Eligibility for the lower house 

 necessitates an age of at least 24 years and residence within the constituency. Man- 

 hood suffrage is introduced for these elections; fulfilment of military service, however, 

 and payment of rates and taxes for the last three years before the election are required. 

 The whole house is, as formerly, renewed every third year. Even the standing com- 

 mittees of the Riksdag, common to both chambers and with the same number of mem- 

 bers from each, are elected by proportional representation. A Supreme Administrative 

 Court ( Re ger ings fatten) has been established (1909) with a membership of seven justices 

 (regeringsrad). Three members of the Supreme Court of Justice (Hogsta Domstolcn) 

 and one member of the Supreme Administrative Court form (since 1910) a separate 

 consultative body (Lagrddet) for giving opinions upon all proposed changes of law. The 

 number of justices in the Supreme Court has been increased from 18 to 24. Jurisdiction 

 in disputed parliamentary elections belongs to the Supreme Administrative Court. 



Defence. A Royal Commission under the personal direction of the Premier and of the 

 ministers of land defence, naval defence and finance, is preparing a drastic reform of 

 the whole defence system. The reservists system (landsstorm) has been reorganised of late, 

 and was tested by a partial mobilisation during the autumn of 1912. 



The navy includes 12 ironclads of 3,100 to 4,270 tons. The building of a larger coast- 



