This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1910 Excerpt: ...mine in the Mesabi Range two million tons of ore have been taken in one year. This is as much as the iron product of the whole country of Sweden. Five mines in the same range are producing more iron every year than is mined in the whole of France, which is the fifth in rank of all the iron-producing countries. In some ...
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This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1910 Excerpt: ...mine in the Mesabi Range two million tons of ore have been taken in one year. This is as much as the iron product of the whole country of Sweden. Five mines in the same range are producing more iron every year than is mined in the whole of France, which is the fifth in rank of all the iron-producing countries. In some of the mines the ore has been removed to the depth of from fifty to two Fig. 63. Overlooking The Ore Docks, Two Harbors, Minnesota hundred feet, and a seemingly inexhaustible supply remains, while new mines are being opened every year. All iron must first be separated from the other substances with which it is found in the earth before it is ready for manufacture. To do this great heat is necessary, and consequently much coal is required. The iron is therefore transported from the mines to the coal regions to be smelted. Let us follow it in its journey to the smelting furnaces. Our fifty-car train leaves the mine bound for Duluth, one of the iron-shipping ports at the western end of Lake Superior. We might go to Two Harbors or to the town of Superior instead, for in each of these places there are immense ore docks, stretching out perhaps a half mile into the lakes; the largest iron-ore docks in the world are situated in these three cities. The train runs out on these docks, and the iron falls from the cars into huge pockets beneath. Only a few minutes are required for the unloading, and the train is soon ready to start back to the mines. In the meantime, on the large boats fastened to the docks shutes are opened, and the ore slides down into the vessels. In less than an hour six thousand tons have been loaded on one vessel, and she is ready to start on her voyage of nearly a week through the Lakes. Between the iron region of Lake Superior and ...
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