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Mouth Of Coal Mine In Mountain Ridge West Of Ta Chu, China MAR [1909] Thomas C. Chamberlin [RESTORED]I removed the majority of scratch and spot defects (many remain) and discoloration; adjusted tonality, added contrast and a sepia tone.
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Entitled: Mouth of Coal Mine in Mountain Ridge West of Ta Chu, China MAR [1909] TC Chamberlin [RESTORED] I removed the majority of scratch and spot defects (many remain) and discoloration; adjusted tonality, added contrast and a sepia tone.
Thomas C Chamberlin was a noted geologist and educator. He founded the famous Journal of Geology in 1893, and was its editor for many years. The journal is an exceptionally well referenced title that remains in publication to this day. His work in US geology is widely recognized as being the bedrock of our current understanding in North American glaciation. He also served as the president of the University of Wisconsin. In his permanent collection of papers held at his alma mater, Beloit College, there is also a large body of photographs that he took whilst traveling on a geologic survey in China.
Mining in China has been a source of livelihood for probably thousands of years. To this day, it remains one of the most dangerous and risky professions the world over, but especially so in China, where there is comparatively little oversight and many illegal operations. During the early 1900's, Chinese coal extraction for most small village operations didn't differ much from the process of today. People needed to climb into a hole and manually extract chunks of coal, using whatever tools they had on hand. A shed (seen in the above picture) generally housed the entrance to the mine. Digging was supported by a constant trail of tunnel retention structure construction; as a tunnel was dug deeper, wood or bamboo supporting columns and cross braces (to prevent deadly cave ins) were erected. Light was supplied by dim oil lamps. The mines were hot, wet (subject to frequent floods) and physically draining; serious injury and death were common.
A very interesting excerpt, describing the conditions within a Chinese mine, was found in an article in The Scientific Monthly, Vol V, July to December 1917 New York, The Science Press 1917:
"In the coal fields near Ping Hsiang there are numerous native mines on both sides of the range. These native mines are a sore grievance to the Ping Hsiang colliery because of drainage conditions. The native mines are always located where the coal seams pinch out at the surface, and are always comparatively shallow, seldom extending more than a few hundred feet into the mountain. Their slanting shafts quite thoroughly collect most of the surface waters which are held above the clay strata overlying the deeper drifts of the large colliery. The upper levels of the colliery naturally approach nearest the surface at the localities where the coal seams outcrop. The result is that the surface waters collected in large quantity by the native mines are drained off to a great degree by the upper levels and drifts of the colliery and these highest parts of the colliery are consequently the wettest by far. The native mines are frequently however in a state of practical flood. The description here given is based on an extensive investigation covering upwards of 200 native mines, undertaken by Mr. M. Esterer, of the Ping Hsiang Colliery.
In digging shafts and laterals, the native miner avoids rock so far as possible, though he has copied foreign methods of drilling and blasting. The diggings are largely in the seams and consequently have many tortuous and narrow passages. The shaft of the native mine follows the vein from the surface, usually at an inclination of from 20 to 60 degrees. After a varying distance the shaft or drift becomes horizontal and then rises, still following the vein. The result is the formation of an elbow towards which the water flows from both directions. This necessitates constant pumping to keep the passage open, and even then the water stands from one to two feet deep for a variable distance. Through this water every person must walk on entering and leaving the mine. Pumping is effected by manpower, as machinery is never used. A long section of a large bamboo, 6 to 8 inches in diameter, is cleaned out, making a circular smooth pipe. Into one end of this a crude valve is fitted and into the opposite end is introduced a piston with valve. This pump is laid along the slanting floor of the shaft and operated by a coolie who sits at its upper extremity. The water is caught in a small pool lined with clay from which it is pumped by a second similar apparatus at a higher level. A sufficient number of these relay bamboo pumps are provided to reach the surface.
As the shafts are never vertical and all work is done by man- labor, some special means is necessary for transporting the coal to the surface. Bamboo or plain wooden ladders with the rungs characteristically close together, so that each step is not over 6 to 10 inches, are laid against the sloping floor and secured by pegs or bamboo withes. The upright side pieces of these ladders are very close together, leaving not more than 6 to 8 inches for the feet to tread. Coal, earth and rock are scraped into small baskets which are pulled by ropes by a coolie who mounts on the rungs of the ladder, with the basket sliding on the sidebars after him. The coal is deposited in a heap at the pit mouth and carried thence in baskets by coolies again to Ping Hsiang or some point on the river where it can be placed in junks.
The native mines are insufferably hot, due to the entire absence of any ventilation system, to the small caliber and single bore of the shafts, and to the large number of persons at work in the mines at once. The average is 30 to 35 degres Centigrade. This temperature, with the darkness and abundant moisture, favors the growth of parasites such as the hookworm, which here finds ideal conditions for propagation. Some of these mines have a daily output of 30 to 40 tons, but most are much smaller."
Source: books.google.com/books/download/The_Scientific_monthly.pd...
Also, from Chamberlin's phonetic treatment of the location, I have yet to be able to figure out where Ta Chu is. If anyone has any clue, please be so kind as to enlighten the rest of us. Thanks.
Thomas C Chamberlin was a noted geologist and educator. He founded the famous Journal of Geology in 1893, and was its editor for many years. The journal is an exceptionally well referenced title that remains in publication to this day. His work in US geology is widely recognized as being the bedrock of our current understanding in North American glaciation. He also served as the president of the University of Wisconsin. In his permanent collection of papers held at his alma mater, Beloit College, there is also a large body of photographs that he took whilst traveling on a geologic survey in China.
Mining in China has been a source of livelihood for probably thousands of years. To this day, it remains one of the most dangerous and risky professions the world over, but especially so in China, where there is comparatively little oversight and many illegal operations. During the early 1900's, Chinese coal extraction for most small village operations didn't differ much from the process of today. People needed to climb into a hole and manually extract chunks of coal, using whatever tools they had on hand. A shed (seen in the above picture) generally housed the entrance to the mine. Digging was supported by a constant trail of tunnel retention structure construction; as a tunnel was dug deeper, wood or bamboo supporting columns and cross braces (to prevent deadly cave ins) were erected. Light was supplied by dim oil lamps. The mines were hot, wet (subject to frequent floods) and physically draining; serious injury and death were common.
A very interesting excerpt, describing the conditions within a Chinese mine, was found in an article in The Scientific Monthly, Vol V, July to December 1917 New York, The Science Press 1917:
"In the coal fields near Ping Hsiang there are numerous native mines on both sides of the range. These native mines are a sore grievance to the Ping Hsiang colliery because of drainage conditions. The native mines are always located where the coal seams pinch out at the surface, and are always comparatively shallow, seldom extending more than a few hundred feet into the mountain. Their slanting shafts quite thoroughly collect most of the surface waters which are held above the clay strata overlying the deeper drifts of the large colliery. The upper levels of the colliery naturally approach nearest the surface at the localities where the coal seams outcrop. The result is that the surface waters collected in large quantity by the native mines are drained off to a great degree by the upper levels and drifts of the colliery and these highest parts of the colliery are consequently the wettest by far. The native mines are frequently however in a state of practical flood. The description here given is based on an extensive investigation covering upwards of 200 native mines, undertaken by Mr. M. Esterer, of the Ping Hsiang Colliery.
In digging shafts and laterals, the native miner avoids rock so far as possible, though he has copied foreign methods of drilling and blasting. The diggings are largely in the seams and consequently have many tortuous and narrow passages. The shaft of the native mine follows the vein from the surface, usually at an inclination of from 20 to 60 degrees. After a varying distance the shaft or drift becomes horizontal and then rises, still following the vein. The result is the formation of an elbow towards which the water flows from both directions. This necessitates constant pumping to keep the passage open, and even then the water stands from one to two feet deep for a variable distance. Through this water every person must walk on entering and leaving the mine. Pumping is effected by manpower, as machinery is never used. A long section of a large bamboo, 6 to 8 inches in diameter, is cleaned out, making a circular smooth pipe. Into one end of this a crude valve is fitted and into the opposite end is introduced a piston with valve. This pump is laid along the slanting floor of the shaft and operated by a coolie who sits at its upper extremity. The water is caught in a small pool lined with clay from which it is pumped by a second similar apparatus at a higher level. A sufficient number of these relay bamboo pumps are provided to reach the surface.
As the shafts are never vertical and all work is done by man- labor, some special means is necessary for transporting the coal to the surface. Bamboo or plain wooden ladders with the rungs characteristically close together, so that each step is not over 6 to 10 inches, are laid against the sloping floor and secured by pegs or bamboo withes. The upright side pieces of these ladders are very close together, leaving not more than 6 to 8 inches for the feet to tread. Coal, earth and rock are scraped into small baskets which are pulled by ropes by a coolie who mounts on the rungs of the ladder, with the basket sliding on the sidebars after him. The coal is deposited in a heap at the pit mouth and carried thence in baskets by coolies again to Ping Hsiang or some point on the river where it can be placed in junks.
The native mines are insufferably hot, due to the entire absence of any ventilation system, to the small caliber and single bore of the shafts, and to the large number of persons at work in the mines at once. The average is 30 to 35 degres Centigrade. This temperature, with the darkness and abundant moisture, favors the growth of parasites such as the hookworm, which here finds ideal conditions for propagation. Some of these mines have a daily output of 30 to 40 tons, but most are much smaller."
Source: books.google.com/books/download/The_Scientific_monthly.pd...
Also, from Chamberlin's phonetic treatment of the location, I have yet to be able to figure out where Ta Chu is. If anyone has any clue, please be so kind as to enlighten the rest of us. Thanks.
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