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Miners And Prospectors: Photos of a Tough Life

Created on Oct 24, 2016 by Kathy Pinna

Black lung, cave-ins, noxious gases, low wages, owing your soul to the company store . . . mining and prospecting has always been a difficult hazardous, and necessary job.

With the rise of industrialism, mining became even more important to the U.S. economy. And, prior to Child Labor Laws, even children were involved in the mining industry.

We honor those who have given their lives to improve ours - the miners of the world.

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History Photos of Miners

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Breaker boys, 1911 PA

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A Nipper, 1911

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A "nipper" is a miner's helper. This 13 yr old boy said he had a constant cough from the dampness. He stood in the cold, with gas pouring in . . .

Gold mining

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Circa 1910 in Nome, Alaska

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Alaska, circa 1915?

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Taking gold from a sluice - notice it's men and women. In suits and hats!

Treadmill gold mine, Alaska

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1916 - 500 ft below the ocean!

1908 Driver Boy

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Driver boys (10 - 15 yrs old) handled the mules and horses who pulled the carts in mines.

Mules in the mines

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West Virginia, 1908

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An open pit iron mine, 1942

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Eduardo Ricardo
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shared on 06/18/2012

Granite quarry, 1906 New Hampshire

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Salt mine, 1893

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This is a cyanotype photo - which is blue toned.

Hydraulic gold mining

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Wow! It took some muscle to hold those hoses! Alaska.

Panned gold

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Showing off a pan of gold, circa 1910 Alaska.

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Wells Fargo carrying gold

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$250,000 gold bullion from the Great Homestake Mine, Deadwood, S.D., 1890

$1,250,000 in gold!

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1906 Alaska. Just think what that would be worth today!

Today, mining is still an important part of our economy but changing technology has impacted employment in the industry. For instance, in the U.S. coal mining jobs fell from 694,000 in 1919 to 83,000 in the past year. At the same time, about 209,000 solar jobs and over 88,000 wind jobs have been created and these numbers are growing exponentially. While safety and living conditions (and wages) are improving, this change has left many in difficult straits.

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