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Show April 2002 Energy 15A Recapping coalmining industry's evolution in Castle Valley Coal mining haa evolved into a productive industry in the Castle Valley area and the Western Railroad focused on in- But the industry's evolution struggled through tragic periods and violent stages before versed the foot of the Book Cliffs, soon discovered to be Utahs richest coal deposit. In 1881, a railroad geologist high-tec- h state of Utah. stalling tracks in Utah from 1881 to 1883. The competing railroad tra- lied by company representatives. In addition, this miners families were forced to live in company towns and trade at the company store. But when the underground workers raised safety concerns, the coal companies were generally exonerated by a nized labor union in 1903-0- 4 failed. In 1910, a localized strike shook Kenilworth, Utahs first independent mine. The states coal miners joined another national strike in 1922. But management prevailed and the 1925 Castle Gate explosion devastated the mining com- Castle Gate, then on the Black Hawk vein in southwestern Carbon County. ' The Book Gifts attracted sev- eral developers and Jesse Knight started work in the Spring Canyon district in 1912. Tapping into the coal deposits in Emery County lagged ofthe lack of railroad transportation. Despite a nationwide mining depression in the 1920s, a coal operation opened east of and the Gordon Creek in 1933. strikes. Until the passage of the Min- district entered production. The first local labor distur-banc- e A few operators acquired took place at Winter eral Leasing Act of 1920, fedQuarters in 1883, one year af- eral law allowed a maximum mines in the 1930s to power inter the D&RG took control of coal land ownership of 640 dustries Aided by coal Two decades of depression acres. the mine in Scofield. An 1899 walkout on the eve The limit was regularly ex- were relieved when World War of Sunnysides opening fol- ceeded through the use of II demands pushed Utah coal lowed. production to record levels. dummy" wntiymwn. An economic setback struck Federal The demand for safer worklitigaing conditions proved all too tion against the Rio Grand con- Utah coal in the 1950s and valid when violent explosions sortium in 1906 to 1912 resulted 1960a. tim coal fields in Castle in an settlement Utahs total coal production Valley. Tlviigmpmpfit.fnrifinwd thy reached an all-tihigh in the After the 1900 disaster at land titles of the railroad mid early 1980s, but the trend Winter Quarters killed approxisubsidiaries Pleasant VhUey and gradually reversed in the 1990s. FueL coal 200 men and Utah Nevertheless, coal mines in mately bqys, Carbon and Emery counties miners organized a strike in Independent or 1901. developments included mines continue to report significant A second attempt to gain the initiated by Arthur and Fred- production levels, signaling a protection of a national orga erick Sweet at Kenilworth near relatively stable industry. the process was complete. ' In 1854, the Utah Territo- pinpointed a deposit suitable for rial Legislature launched the locomotive fuel which soon bejudiciary. In addition, the miners munity. states first effort to locate coal came the Castle (rate mine. Unionization by United resources and offered a cash In 1882, the D&RG acquired fought for company recognition ComMine Workers of America was for fossil workers Coal union and of tiie Pleasant the first usable the the Valley prize fuel deposits found within 40 pany and Railroad, founded in complaints led to repeated achieved after a national strike pro-busine- miles of Salt Lake City. During the 1850s to 1870s, several coal prospects opened, including one at' Coalville in Summit County. The Church of Jesus Christ Saints built a conof Latter-da- y railroad to the Coalville necting to deposit transport the fhel into the valley. Union Pacific entered Utah Territory in 1869, acquired the lino anil Tnnrmpnliwvl (ho hrf oral supply. The companys only completion came from wagon mines or country banks, where formers would drive a wagon up to an exposed vein and load enough for personal needs. The Denver & Rio Grande 1875. The railroad completed its Book Cliffo coal and transportation combination with the ao quisitionafSunnyside-th- e onfy Utah deposit of quality coking coal in 1899. But the industrial growth faced three nugor challenges. The first was labor Most railroad workers were immigrants, who remained in Castle Vfelky and helped give the area its distinctive ethnic mix. Coal miners legitimate reasons to complain about the existing working conditions. The complaints typically centered around the fact that the mimnmlj unfair to due short wages weights tal ss trust-busti- ng out-of-co- urt non-railro-ad DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SERVICES UTAHS JOB CONNECTION T provide quality accessible and comprehensive employment related and supportive services responsive to the needs of employers, job seekers and the community. MISSION STATEMENT: Services offered locally: - Job Referral and Replacement Job Applications Pre-Screen- ed - Job Interviewing Assistance -- Assessment and Skills Testing Services -- Resume Assistance -- 1 Jihor Market Information - Professional Skilled Interviewers -- Welfare to Work Supportive Services - Statewide, Regional or National Recruitment - Computerized Self Help Center Skills Workshops - Career Counseling and Exploration - Free use of facility for interviewing, s Pre-Employm- testing-orientation- - Job Retention Workshops Take advantage of your local Utah Department of Workforce Services Office. We're here to serve you. Were dedicated to the same goal you are: making your business the best it can be. We are: Utah Job Connection 475 W Price River Drive, Suite 256, Price, Utah 84501-285- 7 (435) Email: wshprice.r8park88tale.ut.u8 Internet B9 B 63&-230- 3 FAX (435) 636-23- 80 Sun-nysi- de . |