Description
Bradley, Melvin (1987). Mules: Missouri’s Long Eared Miners. University of Missouri Extension Publications. 73 Seiten. ISBN 978-0933842069
Mules played a prominent part in Missouri mining history. Income from mining was second only to that of the fur industry in the early 1700’s, and was responsible for much of the immigration into our area. Missouri miners began trying mule power to ease their burdens. By the early 1800’s they had developed an efficient ore retrieval process incorporating the mule as a unique machine that thought for itself and had a personality.
Miners started out pushing ore the short distances to mine shafts in small cans mounted on crude wheels. At the shaft they lifted the ore to the surface with a hand-cranked windlass. To ease this chore they soon devised animal powered lifts. Then, as mining progressed, the miners tunneled further and further from the shaft, making the transport of ore from the digging face to the shaft the next big holdup. They began looking for means requiring less time and labor than the hand-pushed carts. Better cars were developed. Then someone tried taking a mule down into the mine to ease his burdens and an adventuresome period of mining began that may never be equaled.
The use of animals in mines was an ancient art but the extensive use of mules was a Missouri innovation. It turned out the mule could simply outwork, outpull, outlive, and outsmart a horse ·of similar size and type, permitting the miner’s productivity to increase 10 to 20 percent. Missouri miners‘ stories are filled with fond (mostly) memories of antics of their mules.
Such refinements as tracks and bigger ore cars were added and a single mule would pull several cars. Mules learned the repeated routines of hauling and dumping cars quickly and most mules performed them without command or prodding. Good mules worked without lines and obeyed voice commands. The mule’s good judgment and survival instincts reduced accidents and increased his longevity. His good sense allowed him to open ventilation doors with his nose, eliminating the need for a doorman. Some miners had faith in their mule’s keen hearing and respected their judgment as to danger of cave-ins. They provided an early warning system.
Hills and valleys in some ofthe coal seams dictated a dash down one slope and the correct momentum combined with appropriate pulling power to negotiate the next incline. Mules were masters at conquering these obstacles and were fondly appreciated for such skills. Some mules were considered „characters“ and became good companions to miners, thus helping relieve the back-breaking monotony of mining. The last mules in deep shaft mines in Missouri left the Billy Creek Coal Mine at Novinger in 1966 and with them something in excitement, challenge and companionship was forever lost in the mining industry.
