Published in the August 2006 American Longwall Magazine
But not when it comes to coal mining. Nostalgia has taken a back seat to technology and safety these days, and no one is complaining.
One look at this early 20th century miner and you can easily see why. Pick and shovel, mallet and bucket â everything was done by hand in shallow tunnels.
Also note the manual drill used to bore holes into the face to place dynamite charges. Safety? It wasnât even an issue. No SCSRs (Self-Contained, Self-Rescuers), no gas monitors, not even basics like safety glasses and gloves.
And, yes, that is an open-flame lantern atop the cap, just waiting for a methane leak to really spoil his day. So, anyone want to go back to the good old days? Didnât think so.
Photo courtesy United States Department of Labor Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) National Mine Health and Safety Academy Technical Information Center & Library, Bureau of Mines Collection.
