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1950-1959 1950s: Labor Peace, Continued Mechanization and a Changing Focus on the Environment 1950-1959 T he decade of the 1950s began with a mixture of hope and fear within the pages of Coal Age. Reflecting upon the pre- vious strike-filled year, editor Ivan Given asked if John L. Lewis, the UMWA and 1949 work stoppages were extracting too high a price from the industry and the nation as miners struggled with operators for con- trol. Consistently inconsistent coal produc- tion was practically handing over market share to the natural gas and oil industries. All the while hydro-generation was gaining favor and scientists continued experiments with the potential of atomic energy. Coal's future depended on its ability to stabilize labor relations and reliably produce the energy vital for the America's expanding post-war economy. In 1950, "underground, the mining- and-loading machine and roof bolting held center of the stage. In stripping, increased equipment capacity was paralleled by growing use of big augers and other equip- ment for increasing coal recovery after the stripping limit had been reached. And in preparation, growing emphasis on higher quality and increased coal recovery further stimulated mechanical cleaning and the installation of special equipment for treat- ing fine coal including both coal-washing tables and floatation units." Throughout the late 1940s, numerous advances in underground production had led to the development of continuous min- ing techniques. In the February 1950 year in review issue, Given wrote, "experience in 1949 indicates that mining-and-loading machines are today averaging 200 to 400 tons per shift, depending upon seam thick- ness, with crews of 4 to 6 men." Mining without shooting the solid and using con- ventional loading and cutting equipment were also inaugurated that year. Roof-bolt- ing was spreading rapidly around the industry "with mounting evidence indicat- ing that it will provide better roof support at a substantial reduction in cost compared to standard timbering." Underground con- veyor belts were common, and higher capacity belts were getting longer. "At one mine, installation of a 30-in steel-cord belt conveyor 10,900 ft long, head to tail, was completed at the end of the year. Operating at 300 fpm and powered by a single 200-hp motor," wrote Given. Nationwide, continued advancements in surface mining were allowing greater amounts of tonnage to more efficiently be mined as well. "Another increase in the number of large walking draglines and another high in the capacity of shovel dip- pers paced stripping developments in 1949. Other major advances included a substan- tial increase in deep pit operations, the use of larger and bigger augers at highwall operations, and an increase in dipper sizes. With additional coal being surface mined, producers were also coming under increased environmental scrutiny. New land-use policies were being debated as miners learned to be better stewards of the land. Tree farming, cattle raising and other post-mined land uses were becoming more common throughout the end of the 1940s and into the 1950s. Televsion Commentator Gets Background for Peabody Coal Show Prepatory to launching a new television program for the Peabody Coal Co., Clifton Utley (left), well-known radio and TV news commentator, is shown on an underground tour of the company's mine No. 43, Harrisburg, Ill., accompanied by Stuyvesant Peabody Jr., president; Lloyd Anderson, Southern Illinois division superintendent; and Frank White, vice president in charge of operations. The new program, which was scheduled to start April 18, was a 15-minute news program on Tuesday and Thursday nights at 10:30 p.m., CST, over WNBQ, Chicago. In addition to the news, Utley told viewers how coal is mined and discussed with accompanying pictures, the improvements in efficiency and safety resulting from mechanized operations. *Coal Age, May 1950 94 www.coalage.com 100th Anniversary Special Issue Negotiations between coal operators and the union went well in early 1950 and the contract they collectively settled on cre- ated precisely the labor stability needed for coal to move ahead. Deemed "a sick indus- try" by President Truman, full government takeover or nationalization—at the time happening worldwide—was looming unless all parties could find some middle ground, roll up their sleeves and get back to it. Labor peace began early that year. "Coal can offer more value and better service if it August 2012