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vi. mining and metallurgical industry.
3. PRODUCTION OF OTHER METALS.
The iron industry now has such a dominant position in Sweden that
all other metals are comparatively insignificant. This has not always been
the case: during the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries silver, and still more
copper, were of supreme importance for the industry and economy of
Sweden. During the greater part of the 17th century Sweden was by far
the biggest producer of copper in the world. The maximum output was
reached in 1655, namely 3 453 tons: a quantity then sufficient to cover
the whole world’s consumption of copper. Ever since the 18th century
the Swedish mining industry, setting aside iron, has, on the whole, been
steadily declining: this will be realized very clearly, if we compare it
with the world’s production of these other metals. In recent years,
however, a noticeable improvement has taken place, mainly due to the
invention of electro-metallurgical processes for the manufacture of certain
metals. Whether Sweden’s metal industry shall one day recover its
ascendant position, will depend very much on these electro-metallurgical
processes: whether those processes shall be developed to such perfection,
that they can advantageously replace the smelting processes hitherto in
use. If this is to be, Sweden has, owing to her abundant supply of
comparatively cheap water-power, very fair prospects for setting on foot
a metal manufacture on a big scale: and this, even if the necessary raw
materials should not be found within the country in sufficiently large
quantities, and it is necessary, to some extent, to resort to import. The
first step in this direction has been taken by the erection five years ago
Table 63. Manufacture of certain Other Metals and Metal Products
than Iron.
\ Annually Gold kg Silver kg Lead tons Copper tons Copper vitriol tons Zinc tons
1861-65 ..... 15 1 129 444 1731 31 _
1866—70 . ... 8 1185 395 2 003 95 —
1871-75 ..... 5 780 53 1 162 137 —
1876—80 ..... 6 1 117 72 925 175 —
1881—85 ..... 25 1 713 269 771 — —
1886—90 ..... 78 4 254 274 835 304 —
1891—95 ..... 94 3 478 636 480 754 —
1896—00 ..... 110 2110 1519 217 1308 —
1901-05 ..... 65 1036 735 600 1185 106
1906—10 ..... 17 608 473 2 216 545 328
1911...... 11 1289 1 134 3 218 320 2123
1912....... 31 962 1073 3 957 870 3 228
1913....... 25 1037 1235 - 4 215 428 2115
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