King Coal : A Pictorial Heritage of West Virginia Coal Mining

King Coal is a well-illustrated overview of coal mining in the Mountain State. This book discusses and illustrates the basics of mining methods and operations, the geology of the state, life in a coal town, the unrest in the coalfields and more. King Coal describes the living conditions of the miners, and some of the state’s worst mining disasters. You’ll meet some of the more colorful and fabled characters of the industry, including Albert "Sid" Hatfield, Mary Harris "Mother" Jones, and former UMWA president William Blizzard.