Coal Mining

1. Coal Mining Changes and new technologies

2. The introduction of new technology was supposed to help the miners in their everyday work however it was not always welcomed. “The traditions of miners, the slow pace of change and the fear of unemployment . . . Lead the miner to regard introduction of machinery with open hostility.” - Lanarkshire miner in 1842

3. Changes in technology During the 19th and 20th Century many developments occurred in the mining industry. • More efficient fans – for ventilation • Mechanical cutting equipment - “Gartsherrie” machine (1864) • More efficient steam electrical pumping machines. Flat wire rope (1840) more durable than wire rope • Electric light used underground (1881)

4. Caged canaries used to warn of poisonous gases • The canaries were sensitive to the poisonous gases that were underground and when the canary passed out the miners knew to escape

5. Railways carried the cut coal to market • This meant that the coal was able to be transported from the coalface to the shipyards even quicker.

6. Mechanical conveyor belts (1902) • This type of new technology meant that coal was able to be moved quicker to the top of the mine.

7. New dynamites used to blast coal • This meant that it was even easier to get the coal out of the seams in the mine.