of the male industrial workforce; and
WHEREAS, Coal miners in the anthracite region came from
diverse ethnic backgrounds; and
WHEREAS, Coal mines were dangerous places to work, as
injuries and deaths were commonplace; and
WHEREAS, In the late 1800s, more than 10,000 miners died in
anthracite mine accidents; and
WHEREAS, Early anthracite use was limited to local
consumption since the coal was difficult to ignite and hard to
transport to urban markets, making it challenging for early coal
companies to survive and prosper; and
WHEREAS, The Lehigh, Schuylkill, Delaware and Hudson canals
were formed to transport coal to urban markets, including
Philadelphia and New York City; and
WHEREAS, The rise of the railway system expanded the
anthracite industry in this Commonwealth and brought the first
steam locomotive to America; and
WHEREAS, Anthracite use in the iron industry increased the
demand for hard coal and fueled the Industrial Revolution; and
WHEREAS, The Anthracite Coal Strike of 1902 was one of
America's largest industrial strikes and brought about increased
wages, shorter hours and safer working conditions for immigrants
working the coalfields; and
WHEREAS, Anthracite coal helped meet the tremendous energy
and production demands of two world wars; and
WHEREAS, This Commonwealth is now the third largest coal-
producing state and the only state that produces anthracite
coal; and
WHEREAS, Northeastern Pennsylvania is the only region in our
Commonwealth to produce anthracite coal; and
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