A group of retired coal miners talk about their coal mining lives from around 1917 on. Most began working at age 12 or 14 and continued working in mines for 35 years, moving from place to place, wherever jobs were. They recall 2-mile walks to the mine, 10-hour work days in dust-filled shafts, and low wages. They believe the well-being of the mining mules was of more concern than their own. There is brief talk about the Ludlow Massacre. Later, when the "continuous miner" machines were brought in, miners were laid off. Much of the Colorado coal is 500 ft. underground, and they discuss strip mining, which is cheaper, even with the additional land reclamation costs. They feel that nuclear power produces more pollution, but burning coal could be made to burn cleaner. They speak about Black Lung compensation and look back on the history of strikes in Colorado beginning in 1893.
description
A group of retired coal miners talk about their coal mining lives from around 1917 on. Most began working at age 12 or 14 and continued working in mines for 35 years, moving from place to place, wherever jobs were. They recall 2-mile walks to the mine, 10-hour work days in dust-filled shafts, and low wages. They believe the well-being of the mining mules was of more concern than their own. There is brief talk about the Ludlow Massacre. Later, when the "continuous miner" machines were brought in, miners were laid off. Much of the Colorado coal is 500 ft. underground, and they discuss strip mining, which is cheaper, even with the additional land reclamation costs. They feel that nuclear power produces more pollution, but burning coal could be made to burn cleaner. They speak about Black Lung compensation and look back on the history of strikes in Colorado beginning in 1893.
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