If there was ever a development about which it could be said I have mixed feelings, this is surely it:
That could lead to a surge in demand for Indiana coal, which could lead to more hiring across the industry for several years, said Bryan Galli, president of Black Beauty Coal Co., an Evansville-based mining concern."The fundamentals are excellent," Galli said. "This will give us an unprecedented opportunity to utilize Indiana coal for out-of-state requirements."He added: "There will definitely be additional hiring."
My father had black lung; one of my uncles died in a mine cave-in, and another had his back broken. I know advances have been made in mine safety, but as recent news stories have reminded us, there will always be risk in deep mines, and too many precautionary measures are taken only after miners die because of somebody's laxness or greed.
On the other hand, people have free will, and they can choose to take the risk if they think the rewards are great enough. Black Diamond is offering $50,000 to start for truck drivers at surface mines and general laborers at underground mines -- for high school graduates.
