Page:Guide to the Bohemian section and to the Kingdom of Bohemia - 1906.djvu/111

89 In the year 1903 the Bohemian coal fields produced 18,073.296 tons of brown coal (the whole of Austria 21,808.583 tons) and 4,049.681 tons of black coal, this production being valued at 5,500.000.

IRON.

The iron deposits of Bohemia are fortunately situated near the coal-deposits, thus permitting economical smelting.

The iron ore production of Bohemia in the year 1903 amounted to 682.514 tons (total Austrian production 1,688.960 tons), the production of pig iron to 282.089 tons (total Austrian production 955.543 tons). The large iron companies in Bohemia belong to the Austrian trust of iron works.

SILVER.

Bohemia is the only part of the Austrian Empire producing silver, silver-ore and many minor metals (tin, bismuthum, antimon etc.). In the middle ages Bohemian silver mines supplied Central Europe for many centuries. The total value of silver and silver ore produced in 1903 was ₤ 257.795.

Lead ore is found in the vicinity of silver, and lead is also produced as a by-product of silver. The total quantity produced in Bohemia in 1903 was 4.168 tons.

Gold was also discovered in Bohemia in the Middle ages and the sand of some rivers have yielded gold. In 1903 the production of gold ore was valued at ₤ 3829. only 2053 tons,

HEALTH RESORTS.

Bohemia has a large mineral water trade (Bilin, Giesshübel, Krondorfer etc.). There are 33 health resorts in Bohemia, the most frequented being Carlsbad (about 50.000 patients in one year, besides other visitors), Marienbad (20.000 patients), Teplitz.

RAILWAYS AND CANALS.

The first Bohemian railway was built in the years 1825—1828 of the length of 39·5 miles. Locomotive railways were built in Bohemia since the year 1842.