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Out In The Coal Patch: Life in the Coal Mining Towns of Western Pennsylvania

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  • Опубликовано: 6 авг 2024
  • Lecture by Gary Rogers
    Oakmont Historical Society Lecture Series
    Oakmont Carnegie Library
    11/27/2017
    Just as coal provided energy for the steel industry, coal provided a way life for coal miners. In this Oakmont Historical Society lecture, we take a look up the Allegheny River and into the lives of the miners and community life out in the coal patch.
    For more information contact us at www.oakmonthistoricalsociety.org or join us on Facebook.
    * for future notice of upcoming videos, please subscribe to our channel.
    Thanks for watching.

Комментарии • 150

  • @jonimichalski69
    @jonimichalski69 5 лет назад +12

    I'm The Proud Granddaughter and Great daughter of Coal miner In Southwestern Pa

    • @janmock1596
      @janmock1596 3 года назад +3

      Me too!! My grand parents lived in Greensboro pa.

  • @davidwiggings6951
    @davidwiggings6951 2 года назад +9

    Best documentary in mining I’ve ever seen!!!Man they had it rough..people these days got it made and don’t even know it!!!

    • @andrewh5457
      @andrewh5457 2 года назад +2

      All miners go to heaven, because they've done their time in hell.

  • @smokeraven
    @smokeraven 10 месяцев назад +2

    I'm preparing to run a game of old gods of Appalachia. I've been digging into some history to get a feel for the areas and struggles around 1910. this video is phenomenal history and excellent delivery. I'll be picking up the recommended books and I want to just thank the Oakmont historical society for putting this kind of material out there thanks so much

  • @larryunsworth9573
    @larryunsworth9573 Год назад +2

    My ancestors came from Manchester England in the late 1800's and settled and deep mined in the Elk, Jefferson and Clearfield counties. My Great grandfather was killed in an dynamite explosion and my grandfather died of black lung. My grandfather was very proud of being English and a deep mine coal miner.

  • @franniebayne6470
    @franniebayne6470 5 лет назад +23

    WOW, this is wonderful to watch!! My Dad was a Coal Miner from back in the late 1920s. I have a picture of him on my family wall, that shows a few others and him outside the Mine having something to eat. One year when we came back to visit our family, mostly in Verona, Dad took me across the River, on the old Bridge and we just kept going to all the Mines he worked in. (We still had family near that Bridge that lived in Harmerville back then). Some of the Mills were still open and functional. So we went down into the Mine on the newer rails. It was INCREDIBLE!!! I’ll never forget it!!! My Dads name was Ed Bayne Sr. ❤️

  • @blueflamenews2324
    @blueflamenews2324 Год назад +1

    Gary: I'm writing book about growing up in the coal "patch" of Edenborn in the 1950s.. Sites like this offer great insight & information about life in these mining towns. Thank you -.Bob Augustine

  • @otisziggenhorn5858
    @otisziggenhorn5858 11 месяцев назад +1

    This is cool! I grew up in Oakmont in the 60's/70's and graduated from Riverview. I remember the mine in Harmarville still running, Edgewater Steel was pounding, also Ingalls steel mill under the viaduct where Dailys ended up. Anyway, this brings back so many memories! Ive lived out West since 1978 and miss Oakmont/Verona a lot. Oh yeah, the Oakmont Library is a jewel! Appreciate the Historical Society for this!

  • @duffykopriva5277
    @duffykopriva5277 2 года назад +5

    Nicely done. I could have listened for another hour. I’m passing the video link on to my siblings, as we have a coal mining heritage and lives grounded in western PA.

  • @robertmcculley4758
    @robertmcculley4758 5 лет назад +10

    I never went underground but followed in my grandfather's footsteps I was a coal bucket driver not ashamed to admit I didn't have what it took to go underground

    • @veronicamitchell9378
      @veronicamitchell9378 4 года назад +4

      Maybe it was not so much "you didn't have what it took" maybe you had slightly different values

  • @patriciaanderson5177
    @patriciaanderson5177 2 года назад +4

    I just stumbled upon this documentary today. Absolutely fascinating!

  • @cruikshank
    @cruikshank 2 года назад +4

    Thank You 🙏 for an excellent presentation. I grew up in the Anthracite fields, Schuylkill County and my mother in law is from the mid-state Altoona area fields, a mining community called Bens Creek. I’ve never been to Pittsburg but this makes me want to come visit even more.

  • @Dan-n-Duke-jr2ic
    @Dan-n-Duke-jr2ic Год назад +2

    That was a tall casket!! Amazing video! My grandfather worked in the Russellton mine. My dad had six brothers as there were 8 of them living in one half of a company duplex.

  • @anthonybatulis6516
    @anthonybatulis6516 Год назад +1

    Great video. My grandfather worked in the mines near Lilly and Portage for 50 years.

  • @jamessilba2271
    @jamessilba2271 2 года назад +1

    Copper mining towns in AZ and NM were ran on the train / but looking back I had a great life exp growing up in a mining town and being a miner my self / great vidio lotsa history there / bandit

  • @mpwmu9041
    @mpwmu9041 3 года назад +2

    Stumbled across this video. Excellent. I could have listened for another hour.

  • @nancyhicksgribble9799
    @nancyhicksgribble9799 5 лет назад +6

    This is so interesting. I've been looking for so many historical documentaries or museums dealing with coal towns and its been difficult to find. I'm from Ohio and on our way to West Virginia to visit my in laws, I saw row houses and I was amazed. My husband told me "that's an old coal town" and I've been interested since. Thank you for this amazing history lesson.

  • @milominutes6242
    @milominutes6242 Год назад +1

    Thank you for putting this together. This was very informative and gave me a bit of the flavor that my ancestors experienced!

  • @Kreutz
    @Kreutz 4 года назад +9

    Great video/presentation! I watched the entire thing. For some reason, I find the old time mining scene and patch towns so fascinating. I have driven though Bethel Park many, many times and have noticed the old patches like Mine No. 3 and Coverdale. It's really neat learning about this stuff. It's amazing how many patch towns there really were in western PA.

  • @hellosweetheart3350
    @hellosweetheart3350 3 года назад +3

    He's a great speaker. I watched at 1.25x speed and it was perfect. Now I'm watching today's men walk through the old mines.

  • @rogerhuber3133
    @rogerhuber3133 3 года назад +3

    One of the better treatments of the world people lived during the day. A very harsh life.

  • @charcartia7487
    @charcartia7487 Год назад +1

    This blew my mind of the hell these people went through unbelievable times!

  • @JOECorsoNova
    @JOECorsoNova 7 месяцев назад

    So glad I came across this video, it answered many questions I had. Almost as informative and interesting as tragic, these men and their families lived a rough life for sure…..

  • @AR15JULES
    @AR15JULES 4 года назад +2

    What a wonderful lecture! I grew up near the Horning mine in Baldwin.

  • @jimbrant9682
    @jimbrant9682 Год назад +1

    My dad worked in the crow's nest mines and hannastown mine .in the 1930 and 1940s

  • @Bokescreek
    @Bokescreek 3 года назад +2

    That was a really nicely done overview. Thanks for posting it.

  • @lukeduke6634
    @lukeduke6634 2 года назад +4

    I grew up in West Deer, the miners hold a legacy that won’t be disappearing anytime soon. Great video!

    • @Live.Vibe.Lasers
      @Live.Vibe.Lasers 2 года назад +1

      Trying to find my way into Curtisville No. 1 (Benjamin) or Curtisville No. 2 (Francis) or Bairdford. I'm aware of the risks. I know where the shafts and portals are but they're well buried. Will entertain anecdotes on ways in.

    • @cro-thehacker7018
      @cro-thehacker7018 Год назад +1

      @@Live.Vibe.Lasers Already found them. Fully collapsed. Not worth the find :(

    • @Live.Vibe.Lasers
      @Live.Vibe.Lasers Год назад +1

      @@cro-thehacker7018 thanks for the reply. I know where a 14 ft diameter air shaft is on private property that has the equivalent of a concrete curb around it..but it has what I suspect is a steel plate sitting on a concrete feature, then a foot or two of concrete poured over it. 1 possible way in is from the Tour Ed mine (connects) but would only be in an "emergency" if you could visualize one that justifies it.

    • @cro-thehacker7018
      @cro-thehacker7018 Год назад +1

      @@Live.Vibe.Lasers From my research there is no connection between (now) tour-ed mine and Russellton & Curtisville. Back in the 80's or early 90's government had all the mines sealed up with multiple feat of concrete and steel. Basically impossible to get in any place.

    • @Live.Vibe.Lasers
      @Live.Vibe.Lasers Год назад +1

      @@cro-thehacker7018 I have maps that say otherwise. Not saying you're wrong, just conflicting info. They're avail on the Pensylvania Mine Map Atlas hosted by PSU..but I've had them since before that existed from the National Mine Map Repository in Greensburg (or tree?). Nice guy I spoke to on the phone mailed me an optical CD with the maps I requested for free.

  • @franknielsen3562
    @franknielsen3562 Год назад

    I think you should check on the coal mines in Washington and Greene counties in Pa. I worked in the coal mines for around 30 years. I was lucky to stay in the same mine, but it changed hands about 3 times. I never heard of anybody mining the Freeport as I was told it is much deeper, maybe 1300 to 1500 feet down. We had the Waynesburg and Pittsburgh veins. The Pittsburgh was what we we’re mining. We had low sulfur coal called metallurgy coal. I believe we had the biggest coal mine during world War 2. That was in Vestaburg. When I worked at a coal mine near Cokeburg. We we’re mining coal under Washington, toward Claysville and further before they shut almost all the coal mines down, around 2010- 2020. It would be nice to of included all the mines South of Pittsburgh. Enjoyed all of your video, do more😊

  • @fredschroyer584
    @fredschroyer584 Год назад

    Superb history, well presented. Thank you.

  • @rudygeorgiamulesandcountry1594
    @rudygeorgiamulesandcountry1594 2 года назад +1

    Thankyou ... !
    ~Erie, PA~

  • @brianharis2211
    @brianharis2211 2 года назад +1

    This was great video love all the history

  • @thomasdavidson5276
    @thomasdavidson5276 7 месяцев назад

    My ancestor worked in the coal mines of Clarion County by a company based in Pittsburgh. Apparently, he was arrested and convicted along with some other miners of stealing from the company store. Looked like they were trying to provide holiday gifts for their families. He was sent to prison in Allegheny County and his wife and children moved to Tarentum area. From there my ancestors moved to Washington County. I wonder how many families were "relocated" due to being convicted of stealing from the company store that stole from the workers legally for decades.

  • @Ms-ej2vb
    @Ms-ej2vb 3 года назад +4

    My G grandparents came from Austria and settled in PA sometime in the late 1800s. From geneology research it is about all I know. Was told that branch of the family tree was coal miners by another family member. Saw the occupation on a census also. Their two sons which include my grandfather went into the military not sure if they were drafted and the two daughters went to Florida. It must have not been a good lifestyle 😓 I am compelled to learn so much more than I know.

    • @anitam.924
      @anitam.924 2 года назад +1

      My grand parents on my father's side came from Austria too, settled in western pa. They worked the mine. 👍

  • @christinespencer406
    @christinespencer406 3 года назад +3

    Generations of miners never thought I would see the end off coal mining specially when there is an abundance of coal .The uk closed all the mines but still subsidised Europe to dig coal and ship it to the uk .Usa need to keep coal mining .find other energy before the coal mines are closed 👍

  • @genmanion2389
    @genmanion2389 11 месяцев назад

    this was really good! thank you

  • @pilotmike7569
    @pilotmike7569 2 года назад +1

    Awesome video, very informative! Greetings from Poland!

  • @ryansta
    @ryansta 3 года назад +2

    Interesting when you referred to Black Mariah, in UK its a old term used for the vans the Police have usually when they are dealing with people fighting or need to show some sort of force, also called 'Paddy Wagons'.

  • @timothykiska5970
    @timothykiska5970 Год назад

    Excellent lecture.

  • @anitam.924
    @anitam.924 2 года назад +1

    My grandfather Frank Phillips lived in Hollsopple Pa. & worked the mine there. Wish I could find out more info on him & the family. Very interesting video. 👍

    • @jocelynbey5944
      @jocelynbey5944 Год назад

      @anitam. Hollsopple is in Somerset County Pa. Have you tried the Somerset history center? It's a longshot but worth a try. Besides this old census records might be your best bet.

  • @MrButch-ls8vl
    @MrButch-ls8vl 5 лет назад +5

    I am more familiar with the anthracite (hard) coal miners of northeastern Pennsylvania, but the lifestyles and hardships and injustices were the same. For the anthracite miners the defining labor moment was the Great Strike of 1902, which ultimately had to be settled by President Teddy Roosevelt.

    • @kellymurphy6642
      @kellymurphy6642 14 дней назад

      I have 4 generations of grand fathers that worked those mines, starting in Mauch Chunk mines mid 1800 to Scranton mid-1950 with my grandfather being the last. My father said his gfather talked about working with the Molly maguires when he worked in those mines in carbon county. Must’ve been some hard times then.

  • @jonimichalski9193
    @jonimichalski9193 3 года назад +1

    Scottdale pa proud granddaughter and great grand daughter of coal miners

  • @jsagazio
    @jsagazio Год назад

    Well done sir!

  • @johnathanlewis7059
    @johnathanlewis7059 5 лет назад +7

    I live n Fairchance just south of Uniontown. Five minutes from the house is an old coal camp town named Wynn. You can see the old coke ovens out in the fields.

    • @chuckm670
      @chuckm670 4 года назад +1

      My great granparents lived in a patch town North of Uniontown called Bitner. My great grandfather worked the mines in Grindestone and Leisenring no. 1. During the strike the company HC Frick owned the houses in Bitner and threw all of the families out. As a result my grandfather was born on a baseball field where the miners had to live in tents with their families.

    • @chuckm670
      @chuckm670 4 года назад +1

      My other great grandparents lived in Onnalinda/Beaverdale, PA near Johnstown and my great grandfather worked the mines there.

    • @marchevka22x
      @marchevka22x 3 года назад +1

      @@chuckm670 My great grandmother, Helen Beuben lived in Onnalinda with George Wargo likely in the late teens to early 20s. Her original children were Marchevka's (later Marafkas) and most ended up in Iselin PA. Didn't someone put out a Beaverdale History book maybe a dozen years ago?

    • @chuckm670
      @chuckm670 3 года назад

      @@marchevka22x That's neat! Yes...there was a history book put out in the mid 90s. You can still get them from the Beaverdale library. I thought I saw a few months ago they were only $5. I have one from when they originally came out. They are pretty neat because they are first hand accounts/memories of people who lived there. Lots of good stories....especially from the early 1900s through the 1950s era.

    • @chuckm670
      @chuckm670 3 года назад

      @@marchevka22x If youre on Facebook, check out the Beaverdale Public Library on there. They have a great collection of old pictures they uploaded from their genealogy/history collection.

  • @kennyrichard2971
    @kennyrichard2971 Год назад

    That was a fun adventure
    I can’t imagine what that would inside that first structure would be worth to furniture woodworkers

  • @terrynorthern38
    @terrynorthern38 6 месяцев назад

    Most industries would still do this if they could, never drop your guard!

  • @lizzyfrizzy4969
    @lizzyfrizzy4969 Год назад +2

    Fort Pit is a starfort, very rad.

  • @josephmatty8881
    @josephmatty8881 3 года назад

    I am 55 year old male. My grandparents lived in isabella pa. I never met my grandpa Roy Arnett. He got black lung passed before i was born in 1965. Grandparents mary and roy arnett lived in house #1. If anyone has any info on them
    I love to lnow. My great grandpa was Ray Arnett. Grandpa Roy Arnett. Grandma Mary. Thank you. Migrated from France late 1800s. I am proud of my family history. Very good video. Big company GREED. What a shame to control.peoples entire being. Some things never change.

  • @jamesgoetzke8393
    @jamesgoetzke8393 2 года назад

    Really interesting. I live in Butler

  • @edwardgray154
    @edwardgray154 2 месяца назад

    i seen some old mines near pittsburgh were the entrance was so low you would have to lay on your back flat just to get into the mine they called them low seam mines no way would i go into one of those hell holes.

  • @janlascko
    @janlascko 2 года назад +1

    Omg I just found this! My grampap was a coal miners out of Republic (yes as in steel), PA Fayette County. His dad also. My grandma dad had severe coal mining accident Nov 1930, coal car crushed his pelvic area. Where can we find info which mines My family members worked at (Fayette County).

    • @drohegda
      @drohegda Год назад +1

      Janice if you could get down to the main Carnegie library in the Oakland section of the city of Pittsburgh they have a ton of census records mines maps , history books ect. Do you live near Fayette City up by the towns of Loeber or Gillespie? ??

    • @jocelynbey5944
      @jocelynbey5944 Год назад

      @janlascko, to my understanding when Frick pulled out of Scottsdale, there were heaps of old rental record books that got tossed. Of course you can find old mine maps on-line, but for individual records related to a person, the census is likely your best bet.

  • @CH67guy1
    @CH67guy1 8 месяцев назад

    Does anyone know…
    When someone died in the mine and the family was given 30 days to vacate the house, was the debt to the company forgiven?
    Thank you.

  • @mikekozi-lester3887
    @mikekozi-lester3887 2 года назад +1

    Hope they have fun

  • @billp37abq
    @billp37abq 3 года назад +1

    "intermittent" wind and grid-scale solar electricity generation requires "fossil-fueled" back up, PNM VP Thomas Fallgren concludes in 'Energy Sources'. New Mexico Energy Transition Act promotes wind and solar AND is eliminating coal at San Juan and Navajo plants.

  • @jenmb2679
    @jenmb2679 3 года назад +1

    This reminds me of the explosion in BUTTE

  • @bowman0416
    @bowman0416 4 года назад +2

    My great grandfather George E Bowman owned a coal mine I'm looking for information on that.

    • @marchevka22x
      @marchevka22x 3 года назад

      Any idea on the location ... Ray Washlawski would be the best living source for Western PA mines ... you could also look through the PA mine reports ... these at least list the superintendent, although I'm not sure if they listed owners

    • @bowman0416
      @bowman0416 3 года назад

      @@marchevka22x I've tried to research it out as to name of the mine, I do know it was near Saltzburg

    • @marchevka22x
      @marchevka22x 3 года назад +1

      @@bowman0416 James, I believe the "Bowman" mine near Saltsburg (on the Indiana - Westmoreland line) was at White Station on the Conemaugh River. I could be wrong, but am pretty sure this was the Bowman mine. There may be another, but the one I'm familiar with ran into the late 50s at least as it was still going when Conemaugh Dam went in and a spur was constructed to the old RR tracks near White Station to serve the mine.

    • @marchevka22x
      @marchevka22x 3 года назад +2

      @@bowman0416 Here is a site with photos of the Bowman#2 mine ... this was a few miles up-river from White Station near CoalTown which is near Tunnelton. coalandcoke.blogspot.com/2013/03/off-of-west-penn-trail-saltsburg-section.html

    • @bowman0416
      @bowman0416 3 года назад +1

      @@marchevka22x thank you so much

  • @rebeccahiggins1389
    @rebeccahiggins1389 3 года назад

    Shout out to Chambersville, PA!!

  • @milliebanks7209
    @milliebanks7209 8 месяцев назад

    Interesting that a lot of gray haired citenzs are in the audience! Also of interest is the similar fact of reducing pay as they did during the depression!

  • @jenmb2679
    @jenmb2679 3 года назад +1

    Why did they cut their wages?

    • @gregr1672
      @gregr1672 2 года назад +1

      Read up on the railroad riots in Pgh . The workers could barely afford to eat & the company decided to cut their wages even further to make more profit for themselves. The workers started rioting at the news that the company was going to basically starve them. It started out east in the Altoona Shops and spread to Pgh .They burned the railroad ties on Liberty Ave along the tracks ,the govt sent in Army Troops and the railroad workers wives fought with picks ,shovels whatever gun they could . The troops had to retreat over to Millvale side of river and try to regroup . The rail workers and their wives held strong around Arsenal at the 40 th street bridge. Bloody encounters . The companies found out when you kick a dog enough he will eventually bite back . Starve people and work them till they can't take anymore and when they are hopeless ,watch out !

  • @jenmb2679
    @jenmb2679 3 года назад +1

    The miners had to go out of state, to protest? The majority of miners were in Wv. Why not protest there?

  • @jenmb2679
    @jenmb2679 3 года назад

    This is the only video about the same topic that i can understand what they are saying. Even the capions dont work

  • @jenmb2679
    @jenmb2679 3 года назад +1

    All the houses were for the miners. What happend for them to stop working.? You didnt say it was because of the strikes or the protests

  • @terrynorthern38
    @terrynorthern38 6 месяцев назад

    Union yes hell yes

  • @jenmb2679
    @jenmb2679 3 года назад +2

    So, they kicked out the ladies, and miners would stay. Because you said they only kicked out ladies

  • @andrewrich8388
    @andrewrich8388 Год назад +5

    Hope nobody EVER talks to me about "White Privilege" again... I grew up in this area.

  • @jenmb2679
    @jenmb2679 3 года назад +1

    "Both of those died" there were 11 or 12 who were killed

  • @jenmb2679
    @jenmb2679 3 года назад +1

    To have to pay dynamite out of pocket is rediculus. How much did they pay the miners?

    • @testaccount4191
      @testaccount4191 2 года назад +1

      its a brave move from the companies, i could imagine a destitute miner using the dynamite creatively against the company.

  • @colinperkins8794
    @colinperkins8794 8 месяцев назад

    There is still so much coal in the whyoming valley i dont know why they dont pump all the water out of them and reopen them

  • @marchevka22x
    @marchevka22x 3 года назад +6

    Sad to see this thread turn into a bashing of the mining companies ... my grandparents had a dirt floor in the "old country", no electricity, had to get water from the creek, fireplace for heat ... the mines offered all these conveniences and more, for workers who generally lacked any education ... sure you had to "pay rent" if you wished, if not you could build your own house ... there's a lack of appreciation of history among those who turn this into "us against the company".

    • @fasilvadejesus
      @fasilvadejesus 2 года назад +1

      How can they buid their own house if they did not get paid or only received company money?

    • @cammacgregor9354
      @cammacgregor9354 2 года назад

      The complainers are miserable because they continue to make excuses for their lack of ambition and need to blame everyone but themselves

    • @jocelynbey5944
      @jocelynbey5944 Год назад

      @@fasilvadejesus They were free to work for any coal mine - or any factory or other business they chose. If the mine owners are as evil as haters make them out to be, why didn't the workers get another job?

    • @jocelynbey5944
      @jocelynbey5944 Год назад

      @@fasilvadejesus When did anyone not get paid? R&P paid 10's of 1000's of miners for decades, as but one example. So did CBC, ICC and 100's of other coal companies.

    • @fasilvadejesus
      @fasilvadejesus Год назад

      @@jocelynbey5944 I think you should do your research better. They kept the coal miners in debt, once they died their families were kick out with no suport. A lot of them were brought to the US with false promises. Yes it was slavery.

  • @ButterBallTheOpossum
    @ButterBallTheOpossum 6 месяцев назад

    I never realized how the coal miners were basically slaves. Wikd that it isn't talked about more

  • @johnhosler9417
    @johnhosler9417 2 года назад

    Fayette county cancer rate 182.5 per 100k ,Hiroshima, Japan 74 per 100k . That is an interesting fact,

  • @veronicamitchell9378
    @veronicamitchell9378 4 года назад +25

    What a disgraceful time in US history. The exploitation of these workers .........and people think unions are unnecessary, has this not taught us that corporations cannot go unchecked? They will not do what is right out of morale obligation, they are driven by profits no matter what they say.

    • @TattedIrishxxx
      @TattedIrishxxx 4 года назад +2

      VeRonica Mitchell and still are! We are all so fucked!!

    • @lenorevanalstine1219
      @lenorevanalstine1219 4 года назад +1

      there was open violence in Harlan Kentucky in the 60s and 70s

    • @danielwitmer3242
      @danielwitmer3242 4 года назад +8

      Reminds me so much of the Billion Air Company called AMAZON. I worked there for 5 years and just could not take it anymore. YET how many of you support and order from them nationwide? So think about who you buy thru and from, you have a choice and an option but many of the workers of these companies really don't. No different today than it was in the 1850's thru the 1900's.

    • @sp10sn
      @sp10sn 2 года назад +2

      @@danielwitmer3242 You can tell at a glance these comments are not from people who are willing to take responsibility for their consumer choices. In our system, consumers bear the ultimate responsibility for exploitation of labor and also redistribution of wealth.

  • @tmick7108
    @tmick7108 3 года назад +1

    Low Coal......

  • @ralphnolan3187
    @ralphnolan3187 3 года назад +1

    Back then it was ok too bring people from other countries too make rich coal company’s money

  • @michaelgodbee5361
    @michaelgodbee5361 Год назад +1

    Unions are good but you shouldn't have to join in order to work at jobs

  • @jenmb2679
    @jenmb2679 3 года назад

    They started surface mining in the 1890's so why were they still mining underground? They could have prevented hundreds of lives? WHAT AM I MISSING??

    • @luvhengoompha1771
      @luvhengoompha1771 2 года назад +1

      The coal was too deep to mine from surface.

    • @gregr1672
      @gregr1672 2 года назад +3

      Common sense is what you are lacking,not to be disrespectful! Coal seams that are several hundred feet under the surface and the seems only several feet thick would require digging about a year to create giant pits. The strip mining you speak of left the land totally useless .Stripped of every mineral and nutrient weeds won't even grow in those barren places . Entire hill tops in Appalachia are like barren emptiness .

    • @jocelynbey5944
      @jocelynbey5944 Год назад +1

      You have to understand the technology. In the 1890's only the first few yards of dirt (overburden) could be economically removed. As steam shovels became more powerful, coal could be striped mined at deeper deaths. With today's technology, and most near-surface coal having already been stripped, most coal is deep mined, at least in the Eastern US. In the Powder River Basin their is little over-burden, and large seams, but poor quality lignite. Nevertheless the economics are such that PRB lignite is widely used.

    • @jocelynbey5944
      @jocelynbey5944 Год назад +1

      @@gregr1672 You ignore 100 pages of dense regulation that requires, among other things, the original contour of the land be restored and that topsoil be put back on top. My relative was in charge of this area and I am familiar with it. No, you won't get trees 100 feet tall in 5 years, but claiming that nothing grows is simply not accurate.

    • @gregr1672
      @gregr1672 Год назад +1

      Jocelyn,I am not ignoring the reclamation regulations . I am stating a fact that strip mining has rendered tens of thousands of acres of land unsuitable to grow anything .There are places in Kentucky,West Virginia that can't even grow a weed . The surface reclamation acts came as a result of all the damage that had been done! It's not opinion ,it's history. Coal made this country what it is today . Industry has a cost on environment ,you have to be balanced between jobs and clean air & water.

  • @ewanmacfarlane9195
    @ewanmacfarlane9195 4 года назад +4

    Had to buy your own tools.Is there no limit to greed.?

    • @joecummings1260
      @joecummings1260 3 года назад +2

      Auto, truck and heavy equipment mechanics still have to buy their own tools in the year 2021. And lots of those tools are expensive specially tools

  • @winifredquinn5798
    @winifredquinn5798 7 месяцев назад

    There will always be exploration. If you are shipping at Walmart, Target, Dollar General, The Dollar Store, Kohls, ordering clothes on line etc…You are supporting child and slave labor in China, India, and Indonesia. Everyone thinks they would never participate in exploitation, but they do and continue buying more and more every year. If you wear Nike products you are directly supporting slave labor in China, if you drive an electric car you are supporting child slave labor in Africa. At least these coal miners made sure their children had a better life. They didn’t sit on welfare and rely on the state to raise their children.

  • @FirstName-qq6rq
    @FirstName-qq6rq 2 года назад

    What you mean saying "eastern europe"? Because most people came from core CENTRAL EUROPEAN countries - Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, Hungary.
    EASTERN europe you should call Ukraine, Belarusia, ruSSia. Please stop using this cold war humiliating narrative "Eastern Europe" or those "Eastern Europeans" at these days people consider it as offence.

  • @boknows3841
    @boknows3841 3 месяца назад

    I think this guy is out of touch, a lot of city slicker thinks that Pittsburgh is western Pennsylvania. Sorry buddy but you don't know what you are talking about. Western Pennsylvania is anything west of State College PA, and the chit heads in a far corner of pa do not represent the same area as the real coal patch in Jefferson and Indiana County.
    The important people lived in the houses closest to the mine. Why? Because you had to walk to work and when something broke you had to be close to the mine so you could get there in rain, sleet, snow, and you didn't have to fight the elements.
    BR&P didn't pay in script, they just didn't pay anything. Same with the mine in Rossiter, where the people lost their human rights. Big sign on the Eastern side of town, maybe you ought to go read it.
    Historians made a movie about BR&P coal and they plumb forgot to even mention the mines around Punxsutawney.
    Yet the first town of Adrian and Wallston was where he made all of his money!
    I walked out the the theater, spit on the ground and never looked back at the theater in Indiana where they previewed the movie and gave the lecture. And I was the only representative of my town and County.
    36.5 million tons of coal deep mined and a couple more million tons strip mined of metallurgical grade steam coal is nothing to sneeze about. And the machine shops built to support the mines are still working 100 years later.
    But I guess you never heard of Star Iron, Jefferson, Acme, Femco, or Joy Mfg..

  • @edwardgray154
    @edwardgray154 2 месяца назад

    that entire area near pittsburgh is full old underground coal mines like a spider web that is why we have so many problems with mine that subside and ruins homes and roads that were built many yrs ago the owners back then had no for thought.