Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 12, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 October 1901 — VISITORS NOT WANTED. [ARTICLE]

VISITORS NOT WANTED.

People Who Want to See Greenland Host Get a Royal Permit. Greenland is governed in a grandmotherly way by Denmark; but, as it consists of a group of colonies which would not under any circumstances attract many tourists or traders, no outsider complains of the exclusiveness of the Danish authorities. Trade always has been and still Is monopolized by the state, and only government vessels are allowed to sail in Greenland waters. For foreign travelers also Greenland, is a closed country unless the traveler in question has beforehand obtained the rare distinction of gaining the permission of the Danish government. The monopoly of the trade is said to protect the Greenlander from being deceived by unscrupulous merchants. The administration settles a fixed price both -for the goods the Greenlanders purchase and for the products they sell. In this way all are treated In the same manner, and the business being carried on by the state is a guarantee that the natives are not imposed upon. Furthermore, the members of the administration are enjoined to take care that the natives do not leave themselves short of proiuce by selling more than they can dispense with, so that they are destitute of needful food and clothing when the slack time arrives. The native Greenlander never has been, neither Is he now, able to purchase a sinfle drop of spirits from the administration. The exchange of goods between: Greenland ami Denmark Is, as a rule, carried on exclusively by means of the nine vessels belonging to the Greenland company —viz, five brigs, three bark? and a small steamer having a total register of about 2,000 tons net Several of these vessels, which are suitable for sailing through the drift Ice, make two voyages a year and the steamer, as a rule, three voyages.— Montreal Herald.