American watchman and Delaware advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1822-1828, 1823-11-07
SWEDISH IRON MINES.

The great superiority OF Swedish Iron over that
of all other countries, fer the manufacture OF steel
is we'll known, and is ascribed to the great purity
of the ore from which the iron is smelted. Hitler
TO, the British stcel-makers have not been able to
employ British iron in their processes, it having
been found too brittle 10 bear concentration but at
tempts are now making BY some very spirited steel
makers at Sheffield and from the products already
obtained, great hopes entertained OF ultimate sue.
cess. One of the most remarkable OF the Swedish
mines If the name can with proprety be applied to
it, is Tabern, mountain OF a considerable size, com
posed entirely of pure iron ore, and occurring in a
large OF sand which it seems to have been
deposited This mountain has been wrought for
nearly three centuries, notwithstanding which, its
size is scarcely diminished.
But the riches, iron mine Of Sweden is that oil
Danmora, in the province OF Upland. II is IN depth
eighty fsthoms; occupies considerable extent
of territory and its is conveyed to the surface
of the earth through several pits or openings made
for that purpose, by oil casks fixed to large
bles which are put in motion by horses. The work
men standing on the edges Of these casks and hav-
ing ther arms clssped round the cable, descend and
ascend with the utmost composure. The water is
drawn from the bottom by wheel sixty-s feet in
diameter, andis afterwards conveyed along an aque-
duct nearly mile and half in length. At certain
distances from Danmora are several furnaces with
large and populous villages, exclusively inhabited
lby the miners.
In Wraxa's tour through the north OF Europe,
the mine Of Danmora is described yielding the fin
est iron IN Europe, its produce being exported
to every country, and constituting one OF the most
important sources of national wealth and royal revc-
nue. The ore is not dug is usual in other mines,
but is torn up by the force OF gun -powder.an ope-
ration which is performed every day at noon, and is
one of the most awful and tremendous that can pos
sibly be conceived "We arrived" observes the
tourist " at the mouth of the great NINE. which is
nearly half an English mile in circumference, in
time TO be present at it. Soon after twelve the first
explosion took place, and could not be apply com
pared to any thing to subterraneous thunder, or
rather voies of artillery discharged under ground
The stones were thrown up, by the violence Of the
unpowder, to ayast height above the surface of the
ground and the conclusion was SO great as to shake
the surrounding earth or rock on every side.
Gas soon as the explosion had ceased, determine.
ed to descend into the mine, to effect which had to
seat myself in large deep bucket, capable OF contain
ing three persons, and fastened by chains to rope
When found myself thus suspended between hea-
and earth By rope, < looked down into he dark
and deep abyss beneath me- to which I could see nc
termination, shuddered with apprehension, and half
repented my curiosity. This was, however, only a
momentary sensation and before had descended a
hundred feet, looked round on the scene with very
tolerabe composure. II was nearly nine mimi es be.
fore reached the bottom and when set my foot
on the earth, the view Of the mine awful and sub
lime in the highest degree. Whether, as surveyed
it, terror pleasure formed the predominant feeling
is hard to say. The light of the day very faint
~ admitted into these su6erranecus cayerns in ma
ny places il absolutely lost, and hambeaux were
kndled in its stead. Beams of wood were laid across
some parts, from side OF the rock to the other; and
fhaen II
the admission Of gunpowder with the most perfect
unconcern although the least dizziness, or even al
failure in preserving their equilibrium, must have
made them lose their seat, and have dashed theml
against the rugged surface OF rock beneath.
The fragments torn up by the explosion, previously
% my descent, lay in vast heaps all sides. and the
whole scene was calculated to inspire gloomy adj
nlratlon.
" RI manned three quarters of an hour in these
rightful and gloomy caserns, which find employ
ncnt for not less than one thousand three hundred
Rorkmen, and traversed every part of them which,
vas accessihe,conduetedb by my guides The weather
lbove was very warm, but here the ice coyerd the
whole surface OF the ground, and found myself
with the colds Of the most rigourousI
winter, amid darkness and caves of iron. In one of
hese which ran considerable way beneath the rock
we're eight wretched beings warming themseIvesl
FOUND charcoal ere, and eating the little scan,y
arising from their miserable occupation
They rose with surprise a. seeing so unexpected
guest among them, and was not little pleased to
Try my feet, which were wet with treadng on the
melted ice, at their FIRE.
Having gratihed my curiosity with view oil
hose suhterraneous apartments, made the signal
or being drawn up, and iet little terror while re-
ascending, compared with that of being let down.
hat am convinced, after FIVE or SIX repetilions, n
should have been perfectly indifferent to the underl
aklng. So strong is the effect of custom ON the
human mind, and so contemplate does danger or
horror become, when tamiliarized by continual ri-
als
Throughout the whole extent of Sweden. the
ron mines at present wrought, employ upwards Of
twenty-five thousand persons, and yield annu ally
upwards OF hity-seven thousand tons of metal. II