Turner demonstrates the height of a coal mine.

In the early 1800s American’s mining for house coal removed it from shallow seams using simple tools such as picks and shovels. As miners went deeper, it became harder to simply use a pick to dig out the coal. Those first mines were dark and narrow making it hard for the miners to work very far underground. When digging became difficult to remove the coal, miners turned to explosives to remove the black rocks. With each step to improve removing coal, the deeper underground miners descended into the darkness.

The first commercial mines dug a center shaft to access coal. As the main shaft descended deeper underground, side shafts or entries were created allowing individual miners to remove coal. Miners would dig under the seam creating an overhang of coal. Then they would hand bore a hole to fill with explosives in the top of the layer. The charge was ignited and brought down the shelf of coal, making it easier to remove.

At first miners used oil lamps to light the darkness. It is most likely at this point in mining history accidents increased. Methane gas or coal dust in unvented mines could be ignited by the open flames of the lamps. Explosions were not the only danger posed by the environment in underground mines. The deeper miners ventured, the less oxygen was in the air. Black damp death by asphyxiation could be caused by the newly uncovered coal. Exposed to air, it begin absorbing oxygen and releasing toxic gases. Almost every aspect of mining posed some danger to early miners.

The first primary safety tool for miners was the “proverbial canary in the coal mine.” The physiology of the small bird was sensitive to lack of oxygen. If it stop singing or even worse perished, the miners knew ventilation was bad. The little yellow bird most likely saved many a miner from death.

Early mines used air shafts to ventilate. At first, some used a fire box with a chimney to pull air through the mine as heat rose up the stack. Soon it was found using fans to push and pull air greatly improved ventilation. In order for the air to flow through all parts of the mine, a clear understanding of the underground lay out was very important to have the correct air flow. Blocking passages with temporary walls or canvas barriers was used to direct air flow. By the beginning of the 20th century mines were installing fans to move air, helping to increase safety.

There are three primary types of mine access styles. Shaft mining is when the coal processing plant sits above the mine. Miners enter by use of vertical shaft elevators that lower then into the mine. A drift mine entry is when the mine seam is at a higher elevation than the processing plant. A slope mine is when access to the mine is down a slope into the coal seam. The terrain of the land and location of the seam determines the type of mine access.

The first known machine miner was developed in England in 1870. It used compressed air to power its operation. Over the following decades, its design and efficiency improved. By the turn of the century it had made its way into American mines. I would suspect with the entrance of mechanical mining, the first jobs were lost to technology.

The years between 1900 and 1930 were a time of labor unrest and the development of new mining techniques. Were they related? I would suspect the two did have some influence on the problems between labor and management. During this time period the ranks of the unions grew to 500,000. But after the labor wars, membership dropped to less than 100,000 by the end of the 1920s.

Over the next three decades, mechanized mining improved. Machines now could work underground using reliable electricity to power equipment. But, not all mines were able to use the new machinery. Types of coal and thickness of the seams influenced how some coal had to be mined.

By the 1950s, improvements in technology over the previous 30 years had most likely cost the union 400,000 jobs. It was during this time a new mining process was introduced into the mines. I describe it as being new technology, but in reality the process had been in development over many years. At one time it was called conveyor mining. That form of mining improved to the point, it is today called continuous longwall mining. This method removes more coal with less miners.

Longwall is a process where coal is removed along a single face that can reach a panel of 1000 feet or more across. This allows the coal to be removed continuously. The overhead as the mine passes is allowed to fall behind the coal cut. Massive amounts of coal can be removed in this method. Today, over 30% of coal is removed using this type of operation. Section mining is still popular in many mines. In section mining, the coal is removed in a fashion that would resemble a city block if looked at from above. Entries are cut removing the coal, while pillars of coal are left to support the roof along with roof bolts.

After the entree has proceeded as far as needed. The miners then remove the supporting columns of coal. This operation is known as slabbing out. I will have to admit I worked this crew for a short time placing post to hold up the roof. I can still hear in the darkness behind me the timbers taking strain and collapsing.

Today, developers of mining equipment are working to manufacture autonomous mine equipment. Robotic machinery that will go underground and remove coal. If and when this comes to pass, even more jobs will be lost.

There is one more thing that has cost jobs. It is the elephant in the room when speaking of the coal industry. Government regulations. Since 2011, the coal industry has lost 45,000 jobs. That number represents nearly 50% of the work force. Is changing technology responsible? Is government regulations responsible? Or is it the oil and gas industry that has grown rapidly, bringing a cheaper form of energy into our lives, or is it all three? I will let you be the judge of that.

If you are like me, I remember back to the mid-1970s when our country experienced a gas shortage. All our lives were changed by this supposed shortage. The government at the time told us, that when we recover, we needed to find our own energy supply and never again be under the control of a foreign government. Today, we have come to that point. Abundant supplies of oil and gas. Coal reserves that rival anyone else in the world. And yet, that promise we never again would be held hostage by foreign fossil fuels has been forgotten. Every day coal, gas and oil are being loaded onto ships and sent overseas. That finite natural energy we were promised to keep us secure is slipping away. We may never realize that loss. But future generations will ask why we sold their inheritance of energy. At the present time, gas is the highest it has ever been. Yet there does not seem to be a shortage, just high cost. What is the truth about America’s energy supply?

Magicians use misdirection to fool their audience. They direct you to look at one hand, while the real trick is in the other. Maybe our attention is drawn to the hand with regulations, when we should be looking at the other hand that is hiding where America’s energy is disappearing.

I have written about coal and its impact on our lives over the last 150 years. I have tried to point out the challenges our forefathers faced. But is the biggest challenge yet to come as we watch our children’s energy legacy sail across the oceans disappearing along with American jobs, as I look Through the Lens.