Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1852-06-17
Gbr gu ltbs5 81 iirnb
Iron.

iron is the most abundtnt and
useful Of all metals. It IS found al-.
most everywhere; at least, in all
mountainous cou ntries. Possibly it
might be found id valleys also, if men
would dig deep q nough; or rather, if.
they could do 50; for the waters would
rush in, and prevent their operation,
in low Situations. Iron is so ge;er-
ally difased, thhas, there is scarcely a
stone, or even cabbage stalk, but
what properly treated, would yield It;
though not in such quantities as
would pay the expense Of tho scien-
tilie management Norwa v exp rts
several hundred thousand qaintals Of
iron, chiefly wrought into bars. A
few miles from Chfistiansandt are
several iron mines, the ore Of which
by its aid are managed with greater
ease. Wood is extremely scarce
thereaboats; but, being near the sea,
the ore is shipped off to places more
convenient for the founderies. The
principal iron-works are at Moss. ~
There, three or four hundred tonsIare
iare melted al Z time, in each kiln.
The furnace is kept in constant heat
and action, day and night, for about
tea months together in every year
A cannon founder us closely connect
ed with the furnace. Russia is one
of the princi pal places from which we
obtain iron; and cur use of that me
tai is so great, and SO constantly In
creasing,. that our own stores are
found to be insufficient. At Kath-
erineburgh, in Siberia, are the plinci-
Npal iron-worlls, belonging to the gov-
Hernment. Here the river Isset has
a dam across it, two hu ndred yards
Hong, six yards high, and forty broad,
by which the water is raised to a sui
fcient height to work the seve rdl
mills, and powerful engines, requisite
/ for working the mines advantageous
lly. Iron appears to exist in plenty
Through many parts of North Amer
lea. Some mines have been opened
| and are wro ught 10 considerable adj
vantage, on James River AS the
same plot seems to be well stored
with coal, no doubt the produce Of
these mines viii some day, vi cid great
Iemolument to the proprietorB. Eng
land abounds in mines Of iron.
When these are adjacent to coal
mines, the benefit is very great, as
the ore can be worked at a trifing
Expense. These mines are found
chiefly in the northern countries;
Durham, Yorksb hire, Lancashire, and
Shropshire, haT e many forges and
Ismelting-houses+ he forest of Dean,
liz Worcestershire, has LONG been
famous both for its oak-timbe r above
ground, and its iro b mines beneath.
Swedish iron is reckoned am ong the
best found any whd re, esHecia ally for
Ismall wares and q tldry, as is well
known at Sheffield and Il: IBirming-
ham. Great quantities are smelted
in Dalecariia, wherd Gustavus Vasa
hid himself II We should like to
descend into an irbn mine, we had
best take our description from a IA
nous one iDeSweden. Mr- Wraxall' 5
visit to that at Danmora, is quite to
our purpose. In most mines, the ore
lis dug out; but in this, the whole is
iloo8ened By guppow{ler; and the sub
terraneous explosions caused by this
operation are most terrific The
Istones are thrown up,by the violence
Of lie powder, to a V asst height above
the surface of the earth; and the
conclusion is so great, as to shake
the surrounding rock on every side.
Mr.. Wra1all arrived at the mouth Of
the great mine, which is-half a mile
in circumference, just in. time to wit
ness one Of these explosions, which
take place every day at noon. as
soon as the explosion IS had ceased, be
determined to descend into the mine.
THE inspector Of the mines remon-
strated against it very strongly, but
finding him determined, a clean buck
ct was provided, ian ID he gpt into
it, with two men to accompany
him: this bucket vas fastened to q
rope; and he almost fepented Of bis
ltemerity when he hpd descended
about half way, for Id could but just
see the sky over his head, and in the
deep dark abyss below he could dis
Germ nothing; neither could be touch
the sides. Had the rope broke, all
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