Finally! Something will be done about the mines!

Recently, another horrible tradgedy has struck the West Virginia mines. Two miners were killed yesterday in seperate accidents. This was the final blow for West Virginia governor, Joe Manchin. After 14 were killed several weeks ago in the mines, plus this recent tradgedy, mine production throught the state was ordered to cease until new safety laws could be written and enforced. "We will immediately begin the process of inspecting every mine in the state and their equipment, conditions, engineering plans, safety procedures and safe work practices" said Governor Manchin. New laws include the wearing of wireless contact devices by all miners, incase of emergency. Hopefully these new laws and more frequent and thorough inspections will decrease the risk of injury or death for miners, as well as decrease the amount of deaths due to unsafe conditions. West Virginia is the nation's second-largest coal producing state, producing over 153 million tons of coal at 544 mines in 2005. It is obvious that the U.S. needs these mines, and it's sad that innocent lives were taken as a result of our need for fossil fuels.

This article gave me the idea to look into mining in West Virginia. In 1742, John Peter Salley discovered coal along the Kanawha River. Though it was discovered in the mid 1700's, no mining took place until a decade later. The first coal mined was used for the immediate area. Nearly 80% was used for the salt furnaces on the Kanawha River, and the remainder was used to heat the homes of the wealthy. By 1860, coal companys were organized and corporations were asking for financial investments from foriegn countrys. When the Civil War began, the mines closed, and the area was used for Confederate camps. After the war, the intrest in West Virgina's resources peaked again. The first company to market the West Virgina coal was "Pittsburg coal". Mines began to spread all over the state as more coal was discovered. By 1890, electric coal cutting, loading, and hauling machines came into use. In the early 1900's shuttle cars, long trains, conveyor belts, and all large mining machinery was used to mine coal faster and more efficently. In 1927 production reached 146,088,121 tons and in 1947 it peaked at 173,653,816 tons. The West Virgina mines currently provide thousands of jobs, and coal to the world.