Pittsburg Scenes

"Coal mining, which played such a great part in Pittsburg's history, even came into what is now the city proper. This dinky mine, a shaft operation, was located at the corner of Washington and Chestnut, as shown in this 1910 photograph. The site is now a residential area." "Remember When?," The Morning Sun, Pittsburg, KS, Wed. 19 June 1974.

Photo, date unknown, of a early tipple mine. Kansas Centenial Edition, The Pittsburg Headlight & The Pittsburg Sun, Pittsburg, KS, 1961

Dinky Mine at
Washington & Chestnut
- photo abt 1910

Tipple Mining
- photo date unknown

Mining played an integral part in Pittsburg's history from the beginning when it began as a small coal camp and railroad stop on the way to Joplin. During its heyday, around 1915, mining accounted for over 9,000 jobs in Crawford County and produced almost 5 million tons of coal. By the 1930's coal mining has began a steady decline in the area. Below are images of postcards, photos, articles and links that tell the story of a long ago important part in the development of Pittsburg. Clicking an image will take you to a larger view. If you have any information, memories or other photos to share about mining or miners, please let me know.



"Coal Mine" - no postmark (c1907-1914)	"Coal Mining Scene" - no postmark (c1907-1914)	"Pittsburg Strip Pit" - no postmark (c1907-1914)	"A Coal Mining Shaft" - postmarked 1908	"Deep Coal Mine" - postmarked 1919



"Largest Steam Shovel in the World" - no postmark (c1915-1930)	"Largest Steam Shovel in the World" - no postmark (c1915-1930)	"Coal Loader" - no postmark (c1930-1944)	"Coal Stripping Shovel" - no postmark (c1930-1944)	"Electric Shovel" - no postmark (c1930-1944)



Mackie Clements Coal Mine - no postmark (c1915-1930)	Commercial Fuel Company - no postmark (c1915-1930)


"Mt. Carmel Mine" - postmarked 1907	"Coal Mine" - no postmark (c1907-1910)	Steam Shovels - photo 1915	Steam Shovels - photo 1915

	The Mount Carmel Coal Mining Company was founded by Charles J. Devlin. The company owned and operated several other mines besides theirs including those of the Cherokee and Pittsburg Coal and Mining Company and the Osage Carbon Company. Devlin also donated 5 acres of land and $5,000 to the Sisters of St. Joseph for a hospital in 1898. For his generosity it was named Mount Carmel Hospital and opened on 14 April 1903.	"The steam shovel has revolutionized coal mining in many parts of the country as well as in Pittsburg. Since the coming of the first shovel to Pittsburg in 1911, to the present time there has been over 42 installed. In this district is located one of the largest steam shovels in the world. It is larger than those in common use on the Panama Canal. The capacity of its bucket is over six cubic yards, 9 tons. It has two boilers and ninety foot beam. A drive through the surrounding district reveals these gigantic monsters, rearing their huge jaws from the numerous pits on either side. The cut made by these shovels creastes a channel 115 feet wide. One dip of their buckets gathers from six to nine tons. They are first used in clearling the surface of which there is some instances but eight feet to be disposed of . They are then moved directly into the "pit" thus formed where they are a chief factor in the production of "Cheap Fuel" for which Pittsburg is famous. Photos and quote from "Prosperous Pittsburg, Pictorially Portrayed," pub. 1915
"A Coal Mining Shaft" - postmarked 1903

	"This picture of an open pit mine was taken in 1914. The mine was located near West Mineral on land owned by Bill Hamilton. The overburden of soil has been removed by a team of horses and a road slip and the miners are drilling holes in the rock lying over the coal seam. Black powder was used to blast the rock so the miners could get to the coal beneath." "Remember When?," The Morning Sun, Pittsburg, KS, Tues. 17 Sept. 1974.
Miners at Open Strip Pit - photo abt. 1914		Coal Miners in Deep Mine - photo 1915	Coal Mine - photo 1915

		Coal Mining: "Pittsburg attributes much of its growth and prosperity to the never ceasing production of the world's most needed commodity, "Coal"" Coal is King: "Pittsburg, for miles around, is underlaid with inexhaustible supply of high grade bituminous coal. Expert engineers give their opinon that it will last for two hundred years. Imagine a train of cars leading in a continuous line from Pittsburg to New York, each car loaded with 80,000 pounds of coal, and you have an idea of the enormous output of the mines in this district per annum. One hundred thirty-three deep shaft mines, employing 11,000 men, and 42 steam shovels, the largest in the world, uncovering the shallow veins and employing about 1500 men, produce 8,000,000 tons of coal annually, valued at $15,000,000. In view of the fact that Pittsburg is the center of the coal mining industry, the main offices of nearly all the coal companies are located here. Under the above conditions of cheap and everlasting fuel supply WE WANT FACTORIES TO HELP US BURN IT and we will render you valuable assistance in locating here. With exceptional shipping facilities through the four systems of railways heretofore mentioned, and a fifth road building this way, manufacturers will find this a good place to locate." "Progress, Prosperity and Coal go hand in hand and Pittsburg has no fear of famine or shortage for years to come." "She may fearlessly go on building and manufacturing as long as there is a waiting population to receive her goods" Photos and quote from "Prosperous Pittsburg, Pictorially Portrayed," pub. 1915

	"Steam shovels revolutionized the coalmining industry. The shovel shown in this 1915 photograph was owned by the Ellsworth and Klaner Co. It was based at a mine two miles south of Chicopee. Despite the automobiles around, trusty horses were still used to haul the coal away." "Remember When?," The Morning Sun, Pittsburg, KS, Tues, 16 July 1974.		Miners in front of the Sheridan Coal Company Mine 9 between Frontenac and Pittsburg. "Remember When?," The Morning Sun, Pittsburg, KS, Tues, 4 June 1974.
Coal Mine Near Chicopee - photo 1915		Mine No. 9 - photo abt. 1906

	"Meyer Coal Company Horse-Drawn Wagon" Kansas Centenial Edition, The Pittsburg Headlight & The Pittsburg Sun, Pittsburg, KS, 1961		"Three coal miners paused at the end of the day in 1910 to be photographed at the entrance to the deep mines where they worked. Two of the miners are identified as Bill Earl Sr. and John McGregor." "Remember When?," The Morning Sun, Pittsburg, KS, Fri. 13 Sept 1974.
Meyer Coal Company - photo abt 1890		Miners Outside of Deep Mine - photo abt. 1910



Big Brutus - photo 1966	Big Brutus Site - photo 1966	Big Brutus - postmarked 1968	Coal Stripping Drill, Big Brutus - photo 1966	Mining Road near Big Brutus - photo 1966

Nicknamed "Big Brutus" the Bucyrus-Erie model 1850B was the second largest electric coal shovel in the world during its operation in the 1960 and 1970's as it dug the shallow coal seams of southeast Kansas. Built in 1962 at a cost of $6.5 million dollars the shovel weighed in at 11 million pounds and was 160 feet high (16 stories) with a 150 foot boom. The coal bucket was able to hold 150 tons that could fill three railroad cars and only had at a maximum speed of .22 mpg. Owned by the Pittsburg Midway Coal Mining Company (P&M) it was determined in 1974, after only 12 years in operation, that it was not economical anymore to mine coal at the site near West Mineral, Kansas and would be too expensive to dismantle and remove so it was left where it had last stopped. In 1984, it was donated by P&M to a group of people who wanted to preserve the shovel and open it up to the public as symbol of the rich coal mining history of Southeast Kansas. A museum opened on the site in 1985 along with other donated pieces and photographs from the coal mining days and rich heritage of the region. Today the museum has expanded and now includes a dragline from the 1920's that was donated by the Wilkinson Coal Company in 1991 and the "Little Giant," the world's smallest working replica of a early electric shovel which was aquired in 1999 from P&M. The 4 photos above are from the Big Brutus site in 1966 showing how the land around the shovel was stripped of everything as the coal was being removed. The coal drill was used to cut sideways intothe exposed rock to cut away the seams of coal for removal. On the back of the photo of the drill my grandmother had written " the largest coal drill in the world." The Big Brutus shovel is about 22 miles southwest of Pittsburg near West Mineral and can be seen for several miles before you get the actual site. You can see more about Big Brutus, Inc. and the history at their website, www.bigbrutus.org

Mining History Links:

Miners Memorial - Pittsburg. Kansas

Big Brutus - West Mineral, Kansas

Miners Hall Museum - Franklin, Kansas