The table below gives the consumption of spirituous liquor proper per head of the population in the years 1911 to 1925, and the total per capita consumption of spirits, beer and wine, converted to litres of 100 per cent. strength.

In 1925 the total consumption of alcohol in Denmark thus averaged 2.86 litres of 100 per cent. per head. This figure is com

posed of 0.69 litre of spirits for direct or industrial consumption, 1.58 litres of strong beer, 0.40 litre of light beer, and 0.19 litre of wine.

The last table clearly shows that the Danish system of taxation, which originally was set into operation solely for fiscal purposes, has brought about such a heavy decline in the consumption of alcohol in Denmark that it naturally has had extensive social consequences, both in regard to disease and to criminality. Indeed, it appears from the medical returns regarding causes of death and the notified cases of delirium tremens that the figures under these two headings have gone down very considerably since 1917, when the high spirit taxation was introduced, while the number of arrests for drunkenness during the same period has also greatly diminished. Thus in many respects the heavy decline in the consumption of alcohol in Denmark has had an indirect influence upon various social problems, an influence which, according to information available, had actually been much greater than the brief references made above might possibly suggest. On the other hand, the spirit legislation in Denmark and the settlement of the alcohol question which has been thus effected have made it possible to avoid the drawbacks which have followed in the wake of prohibition in certain other countries, because a taxation Act does not involve such a temptation to break the law and thereby such an abuse of alcohol as the enforcement of prohibition itself may involve.

In Denmark the method has been chosen of making alcohol expensive, and the result is that it is already generally recognised that the drinking of alcohol is a luxury that cannot be indulged in every day. The consumption of alcohol is thus limited in what seems to be a convenient manner and at the same time as the system adopted has a beneficial social effect, it brings in a considerable revenue to the Treasury and contributes to the State Exchequer a not inconsiderable proportion of the whole proceeds of taxation.

THE GREENLAND WIRELESS STATIONS

By H. G. GARDE

Naval Lieutenant, Member of the Board of "Dansk Radio Aktieselskab".

In its relations with Greenland it has been the first thought of the State of Denmark for many years to protect the native population from hurtful outside influences, whilst at the same time it has been the endeavour gradually to familiarize the Esquimaux with the principles of European culture, train them to take care of themselves, and improve their economic condition. The chain of wireless stations which was completed in 1925 and which now spans the extensive coast of Greenland is a link in these endeavours.

The question of the practicability of the idea first arose after His Majesty King Christian visited West Greenland in 1921 aboard the S.S. »Island«<, which was equipped with a C.W. station enabling it to keep in regular touch with the mother country via the Reykjavik Radio. With a wave length of about 2000 metres the ship's radio succeeded in covering a range of as much as 1700 km, of which three-fifths were over land.

The new stations, which have been erected by the Danish Government with the assistance of the Danish Radio Company, Ltd., of Copenhagen, are located in the west coast settlements of Julianehaab (61° N.), Godthaab (64° N.), Godhavn (69° N.), and the East coast settlement of Angmagssalik (64° N.). The Kryolit Mining and Trading Company has also put up a station at its mine at Ivigtut, while one more station is a present in course of construction on the island of Ravn Storø.

The main station is at Julianehaab. It is equipped with a Poulsen-Arc-Transmitter designed for an antennae energy of 5-7 K.W. By application of the Lorenz-Herzog-diagramme, which acts as a kind of intermediary circuit, a favourable effect will be obtained even in case of considerable ice or rime formations on the aerial and the increased resistance in the antennae ensuing therefrom. The station is designed for transmission of wave

lengths from 1400 to 6000 m. The transmitter is supplied with direct current of 500-750 volts from two dynamoes driven by two Diesel-motors of 30 h.p. each. The receiving plant which is the same at all four stations is equipped with high and low frequency amplifiers and has a wave-length range up to 22,000 m. Transmitter and receiver work on an umbrella-shaped aerial, suspended from an 82 m high main mast in the centre to six circumjacent auxiliary masts the heights of which, from 5 to 25 m, have been adapted to the irregular ground. The Station is built about 70 m above sea level, and owing to the rocky nature of the country it was necessary to provide an insulated counterpoise aerial, suspended radially from the main mast, and following the ground at a height of about 5 m. The station has been supplied with a guaranteed reach to the Faroe Islands; but during the initial experiments it had connection with Bergen for weeks on end, and also with Copenhagen. Receiving conditions in Copenhagen are not quite favourable at present, however, and until this is remedied all correspondence is being sent via Reykjavik.

The station at Julianehaab is Greenland's link with the outside world. All the other stations serve as collecting stations for Julianehaab.

Godthaab and Godhavn are similar, each provided with a valve transmitter. Both stations have an antennae energy of 1⁄2 K.W. and transmit on wave-lengths from 1000 til 3300 m. The powerplant consists of two 6-8 h.p. oil-engines directly coupled to dynamoes providing direct current of 110 volts. The motor generators transform the direct current to alternating current of 500 cycles for the supply of the transmitter. The aerial is of an umbrella shape, divided into three sections and is suspended from a 52 m high, insulated central mast-tower to three 18 m high auxiliary masts.

Angmagssalik has a quenched spark transmitter with 11⁄2 K.W. in the antennae. The station transmits on wave-lengths from 600-1500 m. The power plant corresponds to that of Godthaab and Godhavn. The aerial is stretched out between two wooden masts, 42 m high. On account of the rocky country an insulated counterpoise aerial is resorted to also here.

The station of Ivigtut is equipped with a valve sender and the one at Ravn Storø with a spark sender.