Pit Workers in the Old Days #15: Rock Cribbing (Filled)
1958 - 1963

Mukashi no Yamabito #15: Bota Kozumi (Juten)
[Pit Workers in the Old Days #15: Rock Cribbing (Filled)]
21.2 x 30.3 cm Ink Painting

This rock cribbing called bota-kozumi worked for supporting the roof, being compressed to some extent, though it did not exactly work like a pillar. It was composed of a square fence made of large masses of piled debris (bota) on the outside and small lumps of rocks filled the inside. In some pits producing lots of rock masses of silicified wood called matsuiwa, the rock cribbing was built entirely out of it.
This rock cribbing was not built in small coal pits. No timber was needed in building it, but great cost was required to hire workers to do it. In the beginning of the Showa era (1926-1989), the cribbing was constructed at important points in pits, such as the boundary between long wall workings and levels (kanekata). It was also served as a receiver of falling debris called bare-bota from the inclined side (kata) of slopes.

Text at the Top
The bota-kozumi carefully built by skilled repairers called shikurikatas was perfect, but those built by other inexperienced workers or non-professionals were good only on the outside. This cribbing that was only crudely constructed and not fully filled with debris was of no use and broke in a short time. If there were props inside, they should have been removed, or the cribbing became worthless.


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

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