Working in a coal mine 1800s vs 21

Coal is used as you know for steam

trains, but other uses are in the ye
old days people used to heat up their
houses and used coal to cook but
people stopped using coal in their
houses because of the foul smell.
Another use for coal is in the
manufacture of coke. Coke is nearly
pure carbon produced when soft coal
is heated in the absence of air. In
most cases, 1 ton of coal will produce
0.7 ton of coke in this process. Coke
is valuable in industry because it has
a heat value higher than any form of
natural coal. It is widely used in
steelmaking and in certain chemical
processes.

children in the
mines

Children as young as three or four were employed,

with both sexes contributing to the work. The
younger ones often worked in small teams, with
those pushing the corf from the rear being known
as thrusters. The thrusters often had to push the
corf using their heads, leading to the hair on their
crown being worn away and the child becoming
bald.
Some children were employed as coal trappers,
particularly those not yet strong enough to pull or
push the corf. This job saw the child sit in a small
cutting waiting for the hurriers to approach. They
would then open the trapdoors to allow the hurrier
and his cargo through. The trappers also opened
the trapdoors to provide ventilation in some
locations.
As mines grew larger the volume of coal extracted
increased beyond the pulling capabilities of
children. Instead horses guided by coal drivers
were used to pull the corves. These drivers were

Dangers in the
mines

Cave-ins

When the walls and ceilings of underground mineshafts

have not been properly secured.
As a result of subsidence
If a mineshaft is excavated too deeply, cracks can
occur in the floor and walls of the shaft weakening the
structure
Gas explosions
Gas explosions occur because of the build up of
methane gas that will eventually explode hence the
gas explosion.
Black lung disease
Black lung is caused by inhaling coal dust that
eventually builds up inside your lungs and causes
breathing problems, fibrosis and maybe death

Injured workers
Injured coal
miners were
treated like dirt
once the company
saw that a single
worker cannot
simply work and
fire him. And there
was no insurance
for the family of a
injured or dead
worker.

21 century mining
st

South
American
silver
corporation
they mine
silver and
157.79 per kilogram
gold

Workers
Workers are treated fairly
and yes this company uses
children cheap labor of
course. Tri metals
headquarters are based in
Vancouver BC

unions

A labor or trade union is an organization

of workers dedicated to protecting members'
interests and improving wages, hours and
working conditions for all. No matter what
you do for a living, there's a union with
members who do the same thing.

an organized association of workers formed

to protect and further their rights and
interests; a labor union.

Non union workers

A non union worker is
unfortunely called a scab and if
they cross the picket line all
the people throw items at that
person and that person is very
hated.

Dangers in the mine today

Gas explosions can happen because
of the build up of methane gas.
Cave ins can happen because of an
explosion gone wrong.
Anything can happen in a mine that
can endanger the workers of course
keeping the mine safe will require
money it depends if the owner wants
to spend that money.

mining close to Home

The mine in comox valley will
create thousands of jobs, people
that wants to work in the mine
maybe need money and a secure job
I wouldnt work there but if
somebody does its their choice.
The average salary
in the mining
industry is more
than $100,000
per year, including
benefits.

Who will be affected

British Columbia Shellfish
Growers Association will
be affected because of
the water and when the
mine opens the water
will be contaminated
meaning no more
shellfish.

Roberta
stevetenston is
worried about the
companies that will
be affected.

Steel
To make steel you need coal
if I was the owner of the
company I would build a
steel mill to create the steel.

Waterways that will be

affected is the water the
shellfish is and those
are worth a lot of money.

No I would not like the raven coal mine,

yes I know a lot of jobs will be cretaed
thats a good short term solution but not
a long term solution the coal dust wont
be very good for the environment and the
waterways being contaminated and thats
big money in comox so no I dont think
the coal mine is a good solution