Early History of Coal Mining in  The Southern Appalachian Coal Fields


Story of Development of Coal Fields Reads Like a Drama-Romance, Tragedy

Charleston Gazette Newspaper ---- January 21, 1923

(Southern Appalachian Coal Fields) State Grows From Medicore Unit in United Colonies to One of the Most Prominent Coal Producing Regions (States) in Country; Peace Replaces War and Industries Grow Rapidly

     WASHINGTON, D.C. January 20, 1923 -- Like a drama, with its romance and tragedies, reads the "simple story" of the development of Southern West Virginia's vast coal fields.

     This development began in the year the state was born and at a time when the nation was settling her differences on the field of battle. The industry grew rapidly until West Virginia has become the second largest producer of bituminous coal in the country and today can boast of yielding the finest grade of coal in the world through its rich smokeless areas.

     The god of war ruled the land during its inception, but abdicated in favor of the Prince of Peace when the north and south settled forever their differences. For 30 odd years peace reigned and West Virginia grew rapidly, its coal fields expanding and its people contented and prosperous. Then greed, the prime factor in all wars, whether industrial, social or political, cast a menacing eye, filled with the lust for power, upon West Virginia's thriving commerce in fuel. Conspiracy was enlisted and the conquest began. The fight was carried from the outside right into the heart of the Little Mountain State's hills and valleys. Tragedy followed tragedy and battle after battle has taken place in quick succession and the conflict is still raging, exacting constantly a heavy sacrifice of human lives and destruction of property.

Submit Brief History

     For this newest agency of official authority, the non-union coal operators of Southern West Virginia have recently prepared and submitted upon request to the United States coal commission a brief history of the development of their industry. Far more interesting to the native West Virginian than fiction, this colorful pen picture of the struggle which has raged within the borders of the state the last 25 years contain a brief review of the unsuccessful efforts to unionize the southern part of the state as presented by the non-union operators.

     The statement in which the Smokeless Coal Operators association of West Virginia, the Pocahontas, New River, Winding Gulf, Tug River, Logan and Williamson Coal Operators association joined, is signed by William D. Ord, of Bluefield, as chairman of the joint committee appointed by the non-union operators to work with the fact-finding commission.

     "Prior to the opening of the mines" reads the statement, "the country generally was an almost unbroken forest; practically none of it was or is fit for agriculture. Towns were small and few because there was nothing to sustain community life. The tide of immigration, seeking the fertile plains to the west, flowed around this barren mountain section. Those who eked out an existence there were descendants, generally speaking, of the trappers and hunters who made our post-colonial days romantic with their pioneer spirit."

Advance Guard

      Then came the advance guard of the captains of industry.

      "With the advent of the coal operator in this region came the modern community life. Coal mining demands labor in quantity. None being available the operator had to provide for them all the creatures comforts--houses, food, clothing, water supply, lights, medical attention, sanitation and later, roads, schools, churches, recreation and amusement."

      The necessity of the operators to provide homes for their employees was born with the industry and still prevails.

      "The uncertainties of any new commercial venture accompanied these early mining operations," continued the statement. "In addition, the pioneers were under the handicap of having to try to introduce an unknown coal to patrons already supplied. for years they struggled for existence. The operator and the employee ventured together into this field. There was hope, but hardly that either would there establish a permanent home. Even with land available, few cared to make investment in homes. For this reason, the residences of officers and employees alike were constructed by the mining companies as part of the plants. This practice remains.

      "Under these conditions, the railroads. the mining industry, and the communities grew together."

     The New River field was the first developed, of the group represented, and then followed Pocahontas in 1880 and the others at much later dates. The statement continues to discuss the close contact and intimate relationship between operator and miner which was inspired by the common risk and the primitive life. The heavy overhead expense in maintaining company houses, "the compensation for which is satisfied and contented employees," is cited.

Prices Are Low

     "The necessities from the beginning have demanded that the companies maintain stores. In these, the prices of food, clothing and other necessities of life are so low as to call forth protests and criticisms from independent stores in neighboring small towns and to induce customers from the larger towns frequently to go considerable distance to patronize these company stores."

     After showing the relation between the operators and the miners, which still exists largely as during the inception of the industry but in a much more modern fashion, the relations of the non-union coal operators to the rest of the country is discussed.

     "Beginning shortly after the Civil War and down to 1915, with certain temporary exceptions, the average price of West Virginia coal seldom, if ever, varied more than 25 per cent." The efforts of the operators themselves to keep the industry stable, their desire to cooperate with government officials to this end, which won frequent commendation from those in executive authority in the nation's affairs, the unsteady and fluctuating effect of the world war upon coal as well as all other industries are referred to briefly.

     Beginning with the initial conspiracy which "had its origin in a contract entered into at a joint conference between the United Mine Workers and operators of the Central Competitive field" in Chicago in 1898 to unionize the Wet Virginia fields "in order to raise the cost of production of coal in West Virginia to such a point that it could not compete with the coal produced in the Central Competitive territory." the union miners organization "has never omitted any act, lawful or unlawful" to bring about "a monopoly of mine labor". Yet not a single mine in the entire smokeless area is unionized today.

Policy of Owners

     "From the beginning of the coal industry in Southern West Virginia, it has been the policy of the operators to conduct the business on a non-union basis. This policy on the part of the operators is shared by a great number, if not all, of their employees, many of whom frankly state they will not work under the union; they will abandon mining rather than do so and will seek other occupations. Notwithstanding the legal right of the operator and the miner to agree upon terms of employment satisfactory to themselves, we have, for a generation, been interfered with almost without cessation in every way the United Mine Workers could devise to accomplish the conquest of our state. They have employed all means from noisy oratory and false representations in private and in public, to leading armed groups, numbering many thousands of men across the state in open defiance of state and nations."

      Then an outline of some of the most glaring outrages against the constituted authority of West Virginia, with the names of many union members and officials who have been convicted in the courts as a consequence, is given briefly.

     In concluding, the committee asserts that every period of coal shortage, except that caused by the war, has been preceded by a strike of miners in the unionized field and states, in effect, that with an adequate supply of coal cars and proper transportation, the non-union fields of Southern West Virginia can continue to supply the nation with coal in any national emergency.

     "If you feel that the people are paying prices which are too high, an effective curb should be put upon the miners union activities by removing expectations to the anti-conspiracy laws, and by protecting all American citizens in their right to work unmolested under such condition as they elect." the committee suggests in closing.
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