The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1905-12-01
SWEDISH. VISITOR
Speaks of the American and
Swedish Mines.

f. Wanjura, the Swedish mining
man who has been on the Vermilion
and Mesaba range for some time
making study of the mining methods
in vogue on these ranges, has gone to
the Michigan ranges where he will
spend some time in the iron and
copper country. While passing
through Duluth he unbosumed him
self to a Duluth reporter as follows:
II have just returned f ON visiting
the Vermilion and Mesaba ranges.
The Minnesota mines are among the
first have been through. am very
much interested in them and mann
moth docks you have here at the
Head Of the Lakes. We have no such
docks in Sweden, although we do have
ore docks, exporting about 100000
tons of iron ore annually. The total
yearly iron output of Sweden is only
5000, 900 tons-nota very large amount
when compared with the production
of the Northern Minnesota ranges.
The Missabe dock alone ships nearly
that much in one month.
Gin some ways American mining
methods are ahead of those employed
in Sweden. and in some ways the
Swedish methods are ahead Of those
in America. Both have their points
in superiority. What impresses d for
eigner most is what we would almost
call the extravaganza in this country.
Expense is no consideration, it ap-
pears, where there is any hope of find
ing ore. In conducting explorations,
shafts are sunk and costly holes dug
where there may be little chance of
getting results. Across the Atlantic
they are more careful, and proceed
with caution. The money is not dis
/ tributed about so freely except where
the chances Of getting results are
more certain.
lam very proud of my native coun-
try, and take a great pride in her
mines and the manner of conducting
them, but am willing to admit that
there are some points Of superiority
1tfn NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. t4fougs- not-ah
the superiority is on one side, as /
said before. The mines here are on a
much bigger scale than they are over
there. claim many points or super
iority in mine construction in Sweden.
"The ore docks here in Duluth and
Superior are marvels. l am learning
many new things, and will profit by
them. 1 find it will take me longer to
visit the places planned than at first
expected. I thought two months
would allow me plenty of time. but
now / find that will scarcely have an
opportunity to do all l desire in three
months. like America, and would
like to stay here longer If circum-
stances would only permit. 1 would
like to stay here in Minnesota longer
if I could.
"On the whole, 1 think the Amer
lean miner is better off than is his
brother in Sweden. More money
is paid here. and the men are allowed
greater freedom. The miners chances
! for enjoying life seem to be greater
than they are across the Atlantic
/ find a numter Of Swedish miners
here and all of them are getting
along nicely
This is a remarkable country.
like the people. / did not expect to
find them SO pleasant and hospitable.
They have been doing everything they
could to make my stay pleasant, and
to give me all desired help and infor-
nation. In Sweden the impression has
gone abroad that all the people ovel
here are such hard workers that they
have neither the time, opportunity or