I begin working in the mines on the 20TH day of May in 1969 and I very quickly realized that I had stepped into
different world than I had ever saw before. It was scary and fascinating at the same time and at the time I didn't have any
idea how much I was going to enjoy the work I would be doing for the next 26 years.
Although I was soon to find out how hostile the enviroment of an underground coal mine could be I always remained
fascinated by the nature of the work I would always do until the day I retired as a disabled coal miner after a very large
rock fell on me in a cave in. That was on the 17TH day of July, 1994 and that is the last time I will mention anything
about that as I wish to convey the positive side of my time in the mines!
All through the years as I worked for a coal company I always had a feeling of accomplishment knowing that I was doing
a job that at that time was helping supply the country with electricity and other side products that were useful for many
other things. The type of mining we did where I worked is hard to explain to anyone that has not been underground to see
how we loaded coal, for myself I ran a machine called a continuous miner that was capable of loading over eight tons of coal
in less than a minute. I loaded the coal into a shuttle car that we coal miners referred to as a buggy, how much coal we
could load in a shift would depend on how far the "buggy" had to travel to the conveyor belt to carry the coal to the shaft
where it was hoisted to the plant on top.
We often used a type of mining that was called "pulling pillars" and that meant that we took as much as the coal out as
could before the top or ceiling fell in. It was risky work that required you total undivided attenttion plus the eyes of
three or more other miners to watch what the top was doing so that the operator of the machine did not get trapped by a cave
in the event of a roof failure. I found that to be very challenging and as crazy as that may seem to some people I enjoyed
doing that very much, that goes back to what I said earlier about having a feeling of accomplishment trying to load as much
coal as possible and getting back to a safe place before a roof failure could occur.
As the years went by the pillar type of mining was phased out and replaced by what was called a "Long Wall" and this
system of mining was safer and more productive. It was safer because all miners involved with this type of mining were always
working under a long line of hydralic jacks that were huge and could hold up untold tons of rock when it would finally fall
in and it always fell in. With the Long Wall type of mining all the coal was removed from the seam and it would not be long
before it all fell in because of all the coal being removed from the seam.
As most people know by now there are not many coal mines left in production because of the EPA and that fact that coal
is being blamed as a contributor to Global Warming. Maybe it is and maybe it isn't, my feelings are that coal is a
contributor but I still feel coal can be used and used in a clean matter but things such as that are to be left to people
other than me but my feelings are that some day in the future some one will find a way to burn coal cleanly so that is can
be used to help America use less oil from countries that don't really care much for America or the American people. I hope
I have not strayed to far away from the subject of how much I loved working under ground in the coal mines even it it was
700 feet underground, plus the fact the day I was hurt we were working six miles inside and away from our air shaft that was
some times called our only escape way! That is my story and I hope that some of you will find it entertaining and perhaps
even found it to be of some educational value!
http://www.mywebcashstore.com/adcock3577
1-800-719-8268 ext.30639
http://www.24hourwebcash.com/adcock3577
1-800-719-8268 ext.30639
different world than I had ever saw before. It was scary and fascinating at the same time and at the time I didn't have any
idea how much I was going to enjoy the work I would be doing for the next 26 years.
Although I was soon to find out how hostile the enviroment of an underground coal mine could be I always remained
fascinated by the nature of the work I would always do until the day I retired as a disabled coal miner after a very large
rock fell on me in a cave in. That was on the 17TH day of July, 1994 and that is the last time I will mention anything
about that as I wish to convey the positive side of my time in the mines!
All through the years as I worked for a coal company I always had a feeling of accomplishment knowing that I was doing
a job that at that time was helping supply the country with electricity and other side products that were useful for many
other things. The type of mining we did where I worked is hard to explain to anyone that has not been underground to see
how we loaded coal, for myself I ran a machine called a continuous miner that was capable of loading over eight tons of coal
in less than a minute. I loaded the coal into a shuttle car that we coal miners referred to as a buggy, how much coal we
could load in a shift would depend on how far the "buggy" had to travel to the conveyor belt to carry the coal to the shaft
where it was hoisted to the plant on top.
We often used a type of mining that was called "pulling pillars" and that meant that we took as much as the coal out as
could before the top or ceiling fell in. It was risky work that required you total undivided attenttion plus the eyes of
three or more other miners to watch what the top was doing so that the operator of the machine did not get trapped by a cave
in the event of a roof failure. I found that to be very challenging and as crazy as that may seem to some people I enjoyed
doing that very much, that goes back to what I said earlier about having a feeling of accomplishment trying to load as much
coal as possible and getting back to a safe place before a roof failure could occur.
As the years went by the pillar type of mining was phased out and replaced by what was called a "Long Wall" and this
system of mining was safer and more productive. It was safer because all miners involved with this type of mining were always
working under a long line of hydralic jacks that were huge and could hold up untold tons of rock when it would finally fall
in and it always fell in. With the Long Wall type of mining all the coal was removed from the seam and it would not be long
before it all fell in because of all the coal being removed from the seam.
As most people know by now there are not many coal mines left in production because of the EPA and that fact that coal
is being blamed as a contributor to Global Warming. Maybe it is and maybe it isn't, my feelings are that coal is a
contributor but I still feel coal can be used and used in a clean matter but things such as that are to be left to people
other than me but my feelings are that some day in the future some one will find a way to burn coal cleanly so that is can
be used to help America use less oil from countries that don't really care much for America or the American people. I hope
I have not strayed to far away from the subject of how much I loved working under ground in the coal mines even it it was
700 feet underground, plus the fact the day I was hurt we were working six miles inside and away from our air shaft that was
some times called our only escape way! That is my story and I hope that some of you will find it entertaining and perhaps
even found it to be of some educational value!
http://www.mywebcashstore.com/adcock3577
1-800-719-8268 ext.30639
http://www.24hourwebcash.com/adcock3577
1-800-719-8268 ext.30639
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