Mining has been important throughout the the centuries, and coal mining has been the most important type of mining. The coal was used for machines in factories and steam engines. Without coal the industrial revolution wouldn't have happened. Also there would not be the same products today without coal or the industrial revolution. Coal mining is very dangerous and many people have died throughout the centuries. There has been a lot of changes in coal mining. For example, below is a table showing the amount of coal mined in one mine over different segments of 50 years:
1700: 2.7 million tons
1750: 4.7 million tons1800: 10 million tons
1850: 50 million tons
1900: 250 million tons
In this mine an average of 58 out of 349 people died in a year.
In most mining towns the people are very poor. They cannot support their kids unless they send them to work at a very young age. The few jobs kids could do included bringing fresh air into the mines, and carrying coal and tools back and forth. There was a report published saying that kids under 5 years old worked underground as trappers for 12 hours a day, making only 2 pennies a day. One girl, at the age of 11, had to do 20 trips per shift pushing a tub which weighed over 300 pounds. Pregnant women had to work until their baby was born, and they had to go back to work sometimes as soon as a day after. If they showed signs of weakness the owners of the mines would whip them, and they would lose their jobs if they complained or reported it.
Trappers were used to let methane gases out, and they helped to cause cross-draft so that the workers could have fresher air. The kids would sit at the small doors, opening the doors as trains went through the mine. They also believed that the doors when closed, would prevent explosions from spreading from one section of the mine to another.
Very Interesting! Mind blowing in fact. I had no idea how many people die from coal mining, 58 out of 349, horrific. I Thought that you did a truly wonderful job with first talking about the opportunities this job has presented for millions of people throughout all time periods, and then gradually shifting into the dangers mining for coal. I liked how you cleverly incorporated hard facts such as, over just a 50 year span in the 70's a single mine could haul in 2.7 million tons, I had no idea! I think you did a splendid job with going into greater detail about the poorer people that rely on this low paying job. I didn't know how little people were paid, kids. Only two cents is way too low. It is terrible that pregnant women had to work in a so dangerous job such as coal mining. Very nice job on telling me about the different dangers like when there is so much methane gas that the tiniest spark could cause the death of so many people.
ReplyDeleteGreat job with this blog!
-Mo
Hey Conner,
ReplyDeleteGreat job on the blog. The working conditions sound very dangerous. Around what time period was this? I really liked how you included the info about the coal in different years. Do you think our country will ever be able to go without coal?
Thanks,
JZ
Hi Conner,
ReplyDeleteI like the topic of coal mining. We haven't talked much about it during Cultures. I like your post a lot. The pictures help prove your point. Have the coal mine conditions improved?
From
Ryan
very cool blog, i really liked how you added the table showing how much coal was mind. i never knew how hard and dangerous it was to work in a mine at the time. what made you want to study how coal affected the world.
ReplyDeletekarsten