The Lee County journal. (Leesburg, Ga.) 1904-19??, 1912-05-30
Underground Wonders d
WieIiszka.
Largest Salt Mine in World Forms
Underground Collection IF Streets.

Largest Salt Mine IN World Forms
Underground Collection Of Streets.
The most interesting salt mine in
the world !. as well as the largest. Isl
that at Wieliszka, in Galicia, Aus
tria, which forms an underground.
collection Of streets, houses, monn-
ments and churches. Its history
can be traced back 1000 years, and
the mine is still being worked
The town and good part Of the
neighboring country are entirely I'M
dermined by this vast excavation,
which forms an oval, % miles IN
length and one mile central width.
The mines are entered by numerous
shafts, with galleries at seven differ
emit levels, leading to a labyrinth OF
passages and immenses excavations
extending to a total length Of more
than 500 miles. The main galleries
alone total IS miles, and there are
% miles Of railway line in this UNI
.derground wonderland. The aggre-
gate depth Of the seven stories 81
fields, into which the mines are
divided, are nearly ! 800 feet. The
annual yield is about 100000 tons,
which necessitates the employment
Of over /, 600 permanent and a num-
Der Of temporary workmen.
Some of the chambers formerly
excayated in this apparently mex
haustible mass Of the purest rock
salt were more than $50 feet high,
but those now made are much
smaller The strangeness and beauty
Of the artistic chambers, which have
resulted from the excavations Of cen
turies, are a revelation to the yisi-
tor, who is continually confronting
fresh enterprises. On the second
level he is rowed across an immense
salt lake glittering with the dazzling
reflections of numberless candles,
which throw twinkling shadows on
the weird beauty Of this remarkable
place. He is surprised to learn on
reaching the third level that the
lake is directly over his head. This
lake is formed by the water which
trickles through the strata and is 40
feet in depth.
CHAPELs AND BEAUTIFUL HALLS.
Sightseers are conducted by guides
through the wonders Of this city Of
salt. The first stop is the chapel
dedicated to St. Anthony hewn 200
years ago BY some unknown miner
from q single piece Of rock salt. The
altar has twisted columns, and there
are statues at each side, praying
monks kneeling on the steps, and
over the altar the crucifixion and a
statue Of the virgin. Smaller affairs
at the sides and the pulpit are carv-
cd from pure salt spar. This chapel
was formerly used for religious SER
vices, but they are now conducted
in the more modern chapel of St.
Canegund.
Then comes a great dancing hall
hung with chandeliers carved from
crystal salt in 1914 in honor Of the
visit Of the Tsar to the mine. Visi-
tors often dance here to the music
of an orchestra. Next they go to
the chapel Of st. Gunegund. opened
in 1896. The chapel itself is $50
feet long, As feet broad and 80 feet
high. II contains statues, a beauti-
fnl pulpit. affairs and chandeliers,
all Of salt.
The Michalowice Hall is 81 feet
long, "a feet wide aud 10S feet high,
with a colossal chandelier feet in
diameter, containing 200 candles.
Passing through other beautiful halls
one reaches the Crown Prince Ru-
dolph Grottos where the lights and
white carving are reflected in the
water ofan underground lake. From
the center Of the water rises a statue
.of salt, Of course surrounded by
FIR trees and stalactites. A beautiful