The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1911-02-17
Interesting News From Sweden,
Norway and Denmark
BEGAN IN TWELFTH, CENTURY
Swedish Steel Stands Foremost In
Quality in. the Worlds Production.
Old Homelof Henrik ibsen at Grim
stad, Norway, for SaIe-OanishS Sailor
Has Extraordinary Experience While
Crossing Atlantic.

Crossing Atlantic.
F.. !. : + 1. !. i. :. = i. + !. + + !. j.
!. SWEDEN. =
+ !. /. 4 i. i. i. !. !. = :. i. j. = !. !. j.
Swedish steel stands foremost in
quality in the worlds production. This
is partially due to the long history of
steel and iron making in Sweden and
to the government supervision and fos.
tering of the industry The superiority
is mainly due to the excellent quality
Of ore produced, which averages 6S.O5
per cent iron. Another reason is that
all the smelling is done with charcoal.
which being practically free from phos-
phorus and sulphur, has beneficial
influence on bte quality of the iron.
The small charges which are neces-
sary, owing to the small capacity Of
the average. steel works in that coun.
try, coupled with extreme care and
good judgment, enable them to pro-
duce better quality Of steel. The
Swedish iron industry extends back
to the Twelfth century and Sweden is
really the place where the industry
was Graded The development of the
industry in Sweden went hand in hand
with the perfecting Of the steel blast
furnace, which is such an essential
part of steel making today. The
countrys first steel company was
founded about 1925, but the year 400
marks the real beginning OF iron max.
ing in Sweden. The personality OF
kings entered into its progression.
Gustavius |. and Charles TX, who fully
appreciated the value of the iron de-
posits of their country, foStered the in
dustry and soon put it in first place
in iron producing. ,Gustavius /. per.
sonally owned and operated the ia
nous Finspongs works and blast fur
mace and manufactured the first iron
cannon there in 1855. In the early
stage of the industry most primitive
methods were used. Ore was mined
by burning wood on the rocks, after
which the ore could be broken loose
with hammer. In 1923 gunpOwder
and hand drills were introduced Pneu-
ma tic tools are now used. Generally,
at this time, steam engines are the
hosting power, displacing horse and
water power The first blast furnaces
were very rude, being made of clay,
timber and fireprOof> material. The
blast came from a common black
smiths bellows which was operated
by water power. Charcoal was and is
still used altogether in steel making.
Sweden exported 3,065,000 tons of
iron ore in 1904 BesSemer steel
achieved its present high reputation in
Sweden. 1t was produced there as
early as 1858.
A Stockholm correspondent says:
Among the future queens of the Old
World it will be difficult to find one
, more charming or more Womanly than
the crown princess of Sweden, nee
Princess Margar~t Of Connaught. She
: has completely captivated high and
low in her adopted country and in her
own suave and delightful manner she
has made her influence felt in many
, directions She is, for instance, a
strong believer In which
the Swedes proverbally are not-and
. the gentle example set by herself and
the crown prince has already worked
, wonders. Princess Margaret is the
best and happiest of mothers and her
. determination to nurse her own babies
was greeted with general approval
She takes profound interest in every
thing concerning Sweden, its history
the welfare of the poor, etc, and the
last year or two her royal highness
; has arranged for a series of lectures
: to be held in her salon at the palace
, in Stockholm, which are attended by
, the members of the royal family and
, some of their more intimate friends
= among whom may frequently be seen
the American wife of Herr Laurin
p ! There are generally about forty per
, sons in all. The king is present when
, no other engagement prevents him
and so is the queen. Princess Carl is
nearly always an attentive listener
and that the crown prince and crown
y princess always attend goes without
, saying The crown princess is also al
enthusiastic sportswoman, more par
tcularly where winter sports are con
i, cerned. She skates, skis and goes ice
yachting Whenever an opportunity OF
fers itself and she looks very charm
: ing in her short violet leather costume
: her kindly brown eyes peeping GU
from beneath an old fashioned. goot
sized and very comfortable looking
bonnet. Although it is only three
years since the princess left LondOr