Wooden Cribbing Used in the Meiji (1868-1912), Taisho (1912-1926), and Showa (1926-1989) Eras
April 1966

Meiji Taisho Showa Ki-kozumi
[Wooden Cribbing Used in the Meiji (1868-1912), Taisho (1912-1926), and Showa (1926-1989) Eras]
38.2 x 54.2 cm Painting in Watercolors and Ink

Text on the Right
The ki-kozumi or wooden cribbing was composed of mine timber piled and arranged in parallel crosses. It was called mi-kozumi (filled cribbing) when it was filled with debris, and kara-kozumi (open cribbing) when not. The names of these two kinds of cribbing were shortened to miko and karako respectively. The karako could be moved, but the miko was difficult to move.

Text on the Left
Building the ki-kozumi required huge expenses for mine timber and labor. Therefore, it was a tunnel-repair method possible only for pits (yama) in exceptionally good financial condition. It was rarely seen in small-scale pits in the Meiji era. However, it was the number one support to prevent roofs from falling. In the Taisho era, before steel pillars were introduced to coal pits, movable karako was used at main points of long-wall coalfaces in large-scale coal pits. Used ties (sleepers) were used for the mine timber to build the karako.


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

<<Last pictorial record    Next pictorial record>>

<<Last 10 items  331 | 332 | 333 | 334 | 335 | 336 | 337｜338 | 339 | 340 |   Next 10 Items>>

337／585