Description
The danger was known before the explosion hit the Centralia No. 5 Coal mine on March 25, 1947. Miners and a safety inspector had expressed concern about the combustible coal dust, yet mine owners took no action to improve conditions. 111 men were killed, and the aftermath brought nothing but finger-pointing. The life of a coal miner can be grueling and dangerous, yet the mining of coal was vital to heat homes, power steam engines, and steamships. While the early years of coal mining saw exploitation of workers, the United Mine Workers of America obtained better pay and conditions for the men through the use of work stoppages and strikes. While once a key energy source, coal has been replaced by other fossil fuels(oil, natural gas). Coal’s lasting impact lies in climate change, deforestation, and black lung disease.
Black Gold superbly recounts significant moments in the rise and fall of the coal industry in America. Author Bob Wyss provides a wealth of history about coal, but also the lasting effects of its mining and burning on the population and environment. Black Gold succeeds as both a history of the fossil fuel and a social commentary on its negative effects. This book makes for indispensable reading.