When coal mining began in the Bookcliff and Wasatch Plateau in the late 1800's, many miners from different ethnic groups in America and from countries around the world came to Carbon County to mine coal that provided for their families and supplied home heating, steelmaking, the production of electricity, and other products. These miners faced cold, wet, harsh conditions, bad top and ribs, explosive and poisonous gases, confined spaces with mining machinery, and coal dust. Many lost their lives, and others had their lives shortened by crippling injuries, natural causes from mining conditions, and miners pneumoconiosis.