Law Commons^™

The Coal Miners Have Taken Care Of Us: Let's Now Take Care Of The Coal Miners, Priscilla Norwood Harris

Journal Publications

For over a hundred years, coal has helped power America's economy.' In short, without coal mining no industrial revolution would have occurred. "Coal fueled the new industrial capitalism."' Moreover, from the very beginnings of industrialization in the United States, "Appalachian coal and other fossil fuels have fired the engine of American industry,"' and it was Appalachian coking coal that helped make the steel America needed.' Coal transformed the United States into "an industrial superpower from a virtual wilderness."" This massive use of coal has come at a price to the miners." The death and injury rate from mining is matched …