COALMINERS-L Archives

From: Joan Johnson <>
Subject: [C-M] Mules followed the miners in Illinois
Date: Sun, 01 Apr 2001 15:04:39 -0500

As the coal industry declined in Streator, La Salle County, Illinois,
the miners went to work in the glass factories. The mules followed.
The mules were used to haul the bottles from the cold end to shipping
and storage. They paid between $200 to $1,000 for the mules. Glass
bottles being more fragile than coal, a good mule was valuable.
One time a load overturned, and the plant manager wanted to know if the
mules were okay. The mules cost money, but he could get another
out-of-work coal miner anywhere.

I once heard that the mules in Cherry were well cared for. If one was
injured they would take him out of the mines to heal.
I was also told that at some mines, if they knew they would be down for
some time in the summer, the mules would be brought up to graze
Joanie

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• [C-M] Mules followed the miners in Illinois by Joan Johnson <>