The Democrat

Mining at the North Pole.

It may not be generally known that important mining operations are carried on within the Arctic circle. Cryolite is brought from Greenland to Philadelphia by the shipload to be used in the making of candles. At Alten, near the North cape in Finmark, extensive copper mines have been worked for a long time. When it is remembered that most of the work has to be done under ground, and that heat is what the workmen suffer most from, it becomes apparent at once that mines may be almost as profitable in these high latitudes as they would be on our coast. The main thing is to have communication open a year for bringing supplies and carrying away the ores.

An engineer who visited the mines at Alten a few years ago, to study the condition in which they were worked, found that the climate interposed no obstacle The mines, when fairly deep, are warmer in winter than in summer In such work as has to be done above ground, there is scarcely any interruption. During the three dark months when the sun does not shine, there is no lack of light to the eye accustomed to the conditions. The sky is clear and starry, the aurora is playing most of the time, and whatever light there is the reflection from the snow increases and intensifies.

More than 150 years ago mining was carried on extensively about the shores of the White sea by Saxon workmen. Silver, copper and lead were produced in quantities Now that the whale fishery has declined, mining enterprise seems most likely of anything to promote exploration and settlement within the Arctic circle.—Youth's Companion.