The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1908-11-21
MINERS LIVE LONG
OCCUPATION SEEMS TO MAKE
FOR LONGEVITY.
Consumption Declared to De Praetle
ally Unknown Among Men Who
DcIve In the Earth-Tales
Told by Veterans.

X. 8. Thomas, coal mine inspector
Of Missouri, has fixed belief that
longevity and coal mining go together.
You never hear Of coal miner
having consumption, said Mr.. Thorn.
as, unless he contracted the disease
before he went into the Pit: and even
then he finds the peculiar properties
Of coal mine beneficial to his lungs,
and he often becomes well and strong
by reason of his work under the
ground.
I'VE have number Of hardy miners
In Missouri who were taken into the
pit In the old country (Wales) at six,
seven and eight years to act as trap
per boys. These youngsters kept
steadily at work until they were pro.
noted to be miners assistants and
then regular miners, and thrived
nightly under conditions which in
most trades would retard their devel.
opment-I mean, beginning work at
that early age.
1T seems as IL Providence had given
health TO the miner as a recompense
for the hazard of his calling. Nearly
all of those who manage to dodge falls
Of rock. breaking cables and other
dangers incident to the craft live tc
q green old age. They not only live
but they keep at work.
1T would surprise Dr. Osler II he
knew how many men far past go were
yet working in the mines at Bevier
Uncle Johnnie Griffith, who died few
months ago at the age of 81, worked
in the pit from the age of seven unit
| year before he died. He began al
a trapper boy in Wales, his father car
rying him to the mine on his back.
His last work was in Mine 81 o
the Central Coal company near Bevier
and he made full hand every da!
for three years after he was so. Will
the exception of short time that h,
ran q hoisting engine Mr.. Griffith hat
practically been In the pit three-quar
tiers Of century"
Mr.. Thomas has made some re
search at Bevier, the largest Goa
camp In the state, and finds that Their,
are there a number of men who hav'
been at work for half century o
more on coal mines and are still Wig
orous.
"And here's another thing" re
marked Tom Williams. a veteran VIII,
had to abandon the. pit some year
ago owing to a fall OF rock, you neve
hear a miner pun and blow when h
runs. His wind is as good as an ath
lete's. His lungs are sound, although
coated thick with coal dust.
Nearly everybody at Bevier burn
coal for all purposes. because it 1
cheap. Most other towns in thes
parts use wood for fireplaces an
heating. Now In time the tops of tn
Bevier houses become coated with Goa
SCOT from their chimneys, and tn
rain after falling on the roofs passe
into the wells and they drink 1t.
"A Bevier family doesn't like waite
unless 1t is caught that way and goe
through that process; that's the onl
kind of water tastes good to EN-
! Why? Because 1t has properties tina
kill pneumonia and typhoid feve
germs.
IT'S an absolute fact that peopl
don't have such maladies when the
use water caught in that way. Nv
lived among them a lifetime and
know that. l can't give the scientifi
reason for coal SCOTS benefcent inflr
ence on we'll water. but there's n
earthly doubt 1t has such influence"