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Explore the history of mining in Utah, including immigrant labor, hazardous conditions, company stores, and the wealth divide. Discover how minerals such as gold, silver, and copper shaped the state's economy.
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Bell Ringer • What year did the Transcontinental Railroad get completed? And where was is completed? (city, state) • What was one of the main groups of immigrants that worked on the railroad? • Give me two effects the Railroad had and will have on Utah.
What was found? • Utah is rich in ORE • Gold, silver, lead, copper, iron, coal, salt, sulphur.
Settlers • Early Settlers: Mined only enough for their family • Later Settlers: Large-Scale mining operations • Some got rich, but most stayed poor • Who got rich? Mine Owners • Who stayed poor? Miners • Most miners were immigrants.
Who is mining? Inventions Dynamite - 1866 Mechanized Drill - 1870 • Mining brings many immigrants from many countries who are willing to do the work because they need a job. • They are coming from: • China • British Isles • Scandinavia • Canada • Eastern and Southern Europe.
Dangerous Working Conditions • Falling rocks • Low Pay • Long Hours • Fall from Elevators • Lung Disease • Explosions • Poisonous gases • Lack of oxygen
The Company Store • Immigrants came to town, they needed food, clothes, shoes, and of course they needed tools to work in the mines. • Company Store would give them all these • When pay day came, there was a big deduction in his check from all the things the Company Store lent him . • Often times, their pay would not be enough to cover what they owed, and they would be indebted to the Company Store. • Most companies had their own money system, and forbid workers from making purchases anywhere other than the Company Store.