Coal Legislation :: essays research papers

combustCoal is a fossil fuel- hydrocarbon containing natural resource, such(prenominal) like fossil oil or natural gas. It is extracted from the Earth by foray excavation or underground mining. It is a readily combustible unforgiving sedimentary rock, which is one of the three main rock categories. Coal is make up of carbon and hydrocarbons, in coordination with other elements. It is the leading source of electricity the creative activity over. It is estimated that half of the worlds electricity is powered by burn.Coal mining in the United States is recorded to earn first occurred in Virginia when 50 scads were purged from the earth in 1748 ( seareducation.org). Today, all of the states with ember deposits fork up produced coal at one point in Americas history as America produces over one billion tons of coal per year. Similar to the cash crops of cotton and tobacco, the business of coal mining has greatly effected the historical development of the Unites States in term s of economical growth, technological advancements, global recognition and even physical expansion. The mining of coal was one of the draws that enticed Americans to travel west and expand the United States. US coal production has reached record levels, but not all coal producing States have shared in this growth. The peak coal production in roughly States occurred many decades ago, whereas in other States the coal industry has been revitalized in recent times. These changes reflect shifts in the use of coal over the years. The economy pertaining to coal issues has effected many aspects of American life including Manifest slews expansion westward, the federal ownership of coal lands, mine caoutchouc and health, labor issues and eventually pollution and social responsibility (bydesign.com)Coal lands in the public domain were governed by special legislating and were not subdue to the same right of location as hard rock and petroleum deposits, according to Utah government archive s. In 1866, Congress decreed that coal bed land be sold to the highest bidder at $20 an acre. In 1873, Congress limited purchase amounts to 160 acres for individuals, 320 for associations, and 640 for associations who had already worn out(p) at least $5,000 in improving a coal mine. In doing so, Congress paved a path for railroad companies to own coal land in Utah, which provided a lucrative mixture of business ventures. This in any case marked the start of federal coal land ownership code and the introduction of mining camps, which would later incite health and safety legislation (archives.