West Virginia Mine Explosion Leads to Questions
Why Work at a Coal Mine?
History Notes
West Virginia had been confirmed to be rich in salt resources. Once coal was discovered hidden in the hills the digging begun. It was a heating source resulting high demand. West Virginia families relied on the coal industry paycheck for the last century. A job where a man can retire from.
Family Tradition?
My West Virginia bloodlines lived for coal mines, each and every day. In 1949 my great grandfather died in a coal mine slate accident. It landed on him killing him instantly. Other family members, stemming as far back as my great great grandfather to present day carried the coal mine tradition.
West Virginia coal miners would get sick every now and then from the unhealthy conditions, but it never stopped them from entering coal mines. Fifty plus years ago if a man lost their job in the coal mine they lost their only opportunity to be able to supply for their family. Any work other than coal mining and railroad work was not enough to feed families with multiple children if they lived high on the hills.
Some understood and lived by coal mine logic, others did not.
My grandmother broke free of West Virginia. In her words "West Virginia is going nowhere. I couldn't find a job and didn't want to be stuck in a dead end street of illnesses." Ironic enough, she took off to New Jersey and ended up with a brain tumor.
My great Aunt would speak of West Virginia as a headache. In her words "West Virginia had nothing for me. I wanted more." She left to Maryland and became a nurse.
My great grandmother in her words "West Virginia is our life. The men leave for work before dawn and come home all dirty. They appreciate a good meal and family after being in the mines. But it's what they know, the coal mines." She ended up living in West Virginia all of her life, even after her husband was killed instantly by slate in a coal mine or watching miners suffer from health issues. Remember, back then, the miners had lights but did not have much in protective gear or high tech machinery.
But that was then, this is now.
The coal mining industry now has a responsibility when it comes to coal miners. It's all about safety. Massey Energy's subsidiary Performance Coal Co. Upper Big Branch coal mine has been given violations over ventilation issues. The explosion that claimed 25 lives this week could have been avoided it obviously seems. Escape routes?
Massey Energy suggests that they are a safe coal environment. If you were to get a job there and traveled to their web site you may be sold on the idea that you are in good hands. Never judge a coal shaft by the mountain of words.
To add salt to injury Massey Energy released names of the dead before family members were notified. Just as the Civil War casualties listed for the family to read the families that lost loved ones this week grew disturbed by the lack of privacy and respect, rightfully so.
We ask the question once again, why work in a coal mine?
The answer still remains. As long as there are families to feed and portions of West Virginia relies on big coal industries to survive coal miners will exist. As long as employees do not wish to drive large distances to a workplace, the coal miners will exist. As long as the big coal industry suggests the safest coal mine environment, the coal miners will exist. And as long as the coal mine family tradition continues, the coal miners will exist.
Three members of the same family fell victim to the Upper Big Branch coal mine explosion.
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Source(s): 25 Dead After Explosion, Fox News; Self-Source
Published by Lori Lane
Lori Lane is a published poet, active electronic journalist, technical writer, fitness center staff member. Lori Lane welcomes questions or feedback. View profile
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12 Comments
Post a CommentExcellent work on this!
My grandfather died due to be crushed in a mine in West Virginia in the 1950's.
Coal miners are very well paid, but I'll bet they'd sacrifice a few of thise bucks (over $70,000 a year) for safer conditions. All that money does you no good if you're dead.
It is a tradition born of economic necessity and familial bond, one that coal mining companies completely controlled (read: company towns and stores) for over a hundred years and one which they continue to manipulate to their advantage. Although tourism has become West Virginia's leading moneymaker, coal continues to be a powerful economic force. And until they make robots to do it all underground -- to mine, maintainenance, transport, and retrieve -- there will exist places like Upper Big Branch -- because corporations only understand the bottom line. The flatline of workers simply provide an incovenience in greater scheme of profit...
Good reporting on this incident that has cost so many their lives.
Nice work on this one Lori!
I second Randy; All we are is human machines to these people, and its never gonna chjange. Nice reporting.
Same ole story up there, the rich get richer and the poor die.
It's just like the question - why live by river when you know the river will flood you out every year...because that is their home, same type of thing.
Excellent reporting and interesting inside look at the lives of coal miners. I think modern-day Americans will be hard-pressed to understand the notion of 'going into the family business,' which now only seems to apply to few segments of the population and in geographically defined regions. Back in the day, it was a given that a son would follow in the footsteps of the father. In fact, most sons relied on their dads to give them 'an introduction' to the foreman or mine owner in the first place.