The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-23
Observation-Disclosures
1T EXTENDS $50 MILES NORTH OF
THE ARCTIC CIRCLE.
COnsects North sweden With the New Port
Of Victoria Haven On the Atlantic
1T viii carry Iron Ore TO the Atlantic
and Fish 10 Russia Pslar circle station

The Arctic Railroad from Lulea, near the
head of the Gulf Of Bothnia, TO Victoria
Haven on the Atlantic has crossed the
mountains between Sweden and Norway
and Is now completed in spite Of great
b taclee In the way.
For more than fifteen years trains have
been running from Lulea 10 the famous
iron mines at Gellivare, forty-four miles
north Of the Attic Circle. As now ex-
tended to the head OF the deep Ofoten
Ford. on the Atlantic. the track north Of
the Polar Circle Ia about $50 miles In length
and penetrates $50 miles into the Arctic
reGions.
II will not only serve important interests
Of commerce, but also be a great con-
venience to tourists. Undoubtedly many
summer visitors who now thrpns up the Nor
way coast to nee the Midnight Sun at North
Cape will prefer to vary the trip on their
way home by leaving the steamers at the
Lofoten Islands. taking this railroad
through the mountains to Gellivare and
then southwark to Stockholm. seeing
much beautiful scenery and saving three
or four days ON the journey back to London
or Paris.
As passengers are carr led on this Arctic
railroad, they will nee their trains draw
up at little station and hear the call OF
the brakeman polar Krise!" The station
house has been built exactly on the Arctic
Circle and bears the nam, Of Polar
Circle" Here are fsoilities for tslesra
ing and the traveller IL likely to make use
Of them to inform his friends Of his un-
usual position this famous geographical
line.
The riches in iron ore that are found at
Gellivare are the sole cause Of the carrying
out Of this great enterprise. The road, az
intimated above. will serve other purposes,
but it would never have been built il it
were not for the enormous beds OF iron
ore at Gellivare that for years past have
been feeding the mineral industries of
England and Germany.
These mines yielded 800 900 tons OF ore
In 1ses. 900 600 tons In 1900 and the guam
tity will now be largely augmented by
the increase and improved facilities for
getting the mineral out Of the country.
For years the railroad between Gellivare
and Lulea has carried the ore down the
Baltic for shipment; but the difficulty is
that the narrow arm Of the sea freezes COM
pletely over in winter. 40 that. in that far
northern latitude there are only four or
Eve months OF navigation in the year. As
this fact has greatly hampered shipments,
II was decided TO extend the line from
0elivare to Ofoten Ford, where there In
deep water for the largest vessels. Like
all the Atlantic ports OF Norway. Ofoten
Fiord Ia ice fres all the year and 40 it
b expected that a constant supply Of ore
will be forwarded In every month from
the new Atlantic port Of Victoria Haven
to the blast furnaces OF England and
Germany.
Gellivare Is a mining town with 5000 in
habitants. an odd little place with dance
halls and a theatre, the log cabins Of the
miners predomipating and the more pre-
tentious chAlets Of the Leading men scat
tered here and there amid the verdure. for
though the place Is an Arctic settlement
it Is a grassy and well-tmbered region.
There is neat little hotel in the Swiss style
built specially for the accommodation Of
tourists who are visiting the place in in
creasing numbers to see the midnight sun
from the point Of vantage Afforded by the
neighborins mountain OF Dundret, 400
feet high.
Here about the middle OF July the mid
IlkHt eun Tiny Uc brch Ill al ICo klOTN,
and a tall tower erected on the summit
extends the view for about fifteen minutes
longer than at its foot. The latter-day
cult Of sun worship seems to he confined to
the Arctic regions; and the champagne
bottles scattered around the top OF Dundret
show the ordinary modern method Of
celebrating the suns nocturnal appearance.
The time was when iron ores cont aiming
phosphorus were regarded as worthless,
but to-day many OF them bring the highest
prices. The Swedish ores, for example,
are regarded among the best steel ores
IN the world; but they are more difficult
to reduce than many others on account
Of the phosphorus In them, and Sweden has
no coal with which to smelt them, so she
sells mo st OF the ore rather than import
coal and make iron and steel. for she can
buy the steel Of Germany cheaper than she
can make it herself. This il the reason
Why It was thought necessary to improve
the means Of Transporting the ore out of
the country.
Around the mines OF Gellivare dwell | 800
miners and their families, The workmen
receive from tl40 TO Sl.76 a day and are
comparatively well-to-do. Fashion maya
zines. book stores and bicycle shops are
quite at home in Oellivare.
There H. however. going to be another
great mining centre on this railroad. This
b a. Kirunavaara, and any traveller on the
road, boxing out Of the car window, may
see one Of the most remarkable sights OF
its kind In the world
II II great ridge. about 100 feet In height
and several miles long. Of solid magnetic
ore, perhaps the largest and the most COM
pact mas Of this superior iron ore In the
world The brass has not yet been dis
turbed except by the diamond drill, which
has pierced II through and proved the con-
tinuity Of the meta llic rock to its mos
hidden receeses.
The Swedish engineers estimate that the
mass contains from 200. 900 coo to $50 900 900
tons OF ore Before very long from 1000
to 5000 workmen will be cutting their way
through this ridge Of iron, which has
probably preserved its present profile.
little changed by the denuding agencies OF
nature. for many thousands Of years.
II Ia now destined gradually to disappear
engulfed in the fiery furnaces Of the nation
and reappearing in long stretches Of rail-
road track. in cannon. ship armor and
many other things that will spread it's u &C.
fulness far and wide A town Of from
10 On0 tn N 0n0 paopIo L. axpoa.>l A. -