The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-08-05
sALT slGNE OF wEhsEzKA.

One of the most famous salt mines in .he
world that of Wiiezka, ncar>Cracow, Po-
lands threatened with destruction by a
flow Of water which nearly filed it. Tie
following account of it may DC interesting to
our readers:
The traveller must procure permit from
the government IN order t. visit these MINES.
but that is easily done, officer being on
the spot for that purpose. The visitor is
dressed in long course linen blouse, a door
is opened, and he goes down by stairs. pre-
ceded by boys bearing lamps If ole Is So
disposed. he can descend 10y the wiuGIass
aud ropes sllspsndod in the centre Of the
shaft. Generally visitors descend by the
stairway and ascend ny Jhe ropes.
Salt FIRST appears at a depth Of something
more than two hundred feet, in a bed Of clay
and limestone. Passing in through one If
these galleries, you come to tie chapel Of
st. Anthony, the first and oldest Of these
chapels. 1t is supported by columns Of salt
ard an altar. cruc;fx and statues of saints,
large as life, all Of the same material =
Owing to the moisture in thiss part OF the
mines, disso,ving goes on slowly; IL" saints
gradually melt away, here an arm, there a
leg, and finally they lose all shape The
smoke arising from the torches and lamps
gives all objects very much the appearance
of black marble. Stairs afler stairs are de-
scended. tunnels and chambers visited, till
the traveller is completely bewidered. Ev-
erythirg is solid salt, except whore some in
secure roof is supported by large timbers-
There is one hall out cf which has been cut
one hundred million weight of salt
Ia one spacious hall stand two salt obe-
lisks, cut IN honor of the visit of Emperor
Francis [. and his empress. Beyond this
tn a al loly hon ty
feet deep, which is crossed in a boat. Fran
els Joseph's ball room is described as another
Of the wonders of this subteraueau world.
it is an immense apartment, both in height
and extent, and on some festive occasions is
used for dancing. 1t is lighted by SIX large
chandeliers, which resemble cut glass but
are in reality crystalline rock salt. Statues
OF Vulcan and Neptune, sculptured from salt
also adorn this hall, which, when well illu-
minated, exhibits a marvellous splendor, the
light being reflected from innumerabe bril-
liant points and angles of the glitterng rock
Groups of miners, naked to the hips, are seen
working all through these galleries. Their
manner of work is the same simple method
used centuries ago.
The number of laborers constantly at work
Is from one to two thousand. These miners
live outside the mines, and are a fine,
healthy, muscular looking set of men. The
temperature is very even all the year round
and the preservative power Of the air is such
that wood never decays, but retains its quail
tiles for centuries. People with pulmonary
affections are said to have been much bene-
fited by inhaling freely the atmosphere of the
mines. These mines have been worked since
the twelfth century, but how much earlier is
not known. They have already been ex-
plored to the extent of two miles and half;
and the aggregate length Of ali the innumer-
able excavations is more than four hundred
miles.