Coal Pits (Yama) in the Old Days (Loading a Truck with Timbers)
1958 - 1963

Mukashi no Yama (Koboku no Daisha Tsumikomi)
[Coal Pits (Yama) in the Old Days (Loading a Truck with Timbers)]
21.2 x 30.4 cm Ink Painting

Each pair of repairers called shikurikatas waited at the pit mouth for empty trucks to come and took one in turn. They then loaded the truck with mine timbers they needed at the timber yard. They asked the transport man to send the timbers to the destined level (kanekata) after they wrote the number of the level on the timbers with chalk.
The truck was about 6 shaku (1.8 m) long and had frames made of flat iron. Its connecting chain was extended when especially long timbers were loaded on it. If the dip of the tunnel exceeded 20 degrees, a mine car was coupled to the front of the truck to prevent the timber from slipping forward. Such a method was adopted only in middle and large-scale coal pits.
The timber yard of each pit was located near the pit mouth and managed by the warehouse-clerk.


Translation Assisted by Mr. Nathan Johndro

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