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For many centuries the mining was mostly surface mining, particularly digging into the banks of the rivers and streams. From this comes the occupation "tin streamer," and was often practiced part-time by farmers and others to try to get a bit of cash. The invention of the steam engine and the Cornish pump in the 18th century made it possible to develop techniques of deep mining, where copper, tin, and other metals could be mined from depths approaching 2000 feet. Mines were often drilled along the coast with lateral arms tunneling out underneath the ocean. | For many centuries the mining was mostly surface mining, particularly digging into the banks of the rivers and streams. From this comes the occupation "tin streamer," and was often practiced part-time by farmers and others to try to get a bit of cash. The invention of the steam engine and the Cornish pump in the 18th century made it possible to develop techniques of deep mining, where copper, tin, and other metals could be mined from depths approaching 2000 feet. Mines were often drilled along the coast with lateral arms tunneling out underneath the ocean. | ||
By the early 19th century the landscape was covered with the stone engine houses where the engines running the pumps and other mining equipment were housed. Mining at that time was by far the most important part of the Cornish economy and the source of many jobs. The pay was good and the conditions were deadly. The average life expectancy for a | By the early 19th century the landscape was covered with the stone engine houses where the engines running the pumps and other mining equipment were housed. Mining at that time was by far the most important part of the Cornish economy and the source of many jobs. The pay was good and the conditions were deadly. The average life expectancy for a below-ground miner was short, and an official report of conditions in the St Cleer mining district noted that the average age at death for a miner was 23 years. "Miner's lung" came from breathing the dust, and killed many men at a young age. The men operating the drills were paid very well, but were, with few exceptions, dead within 4 years. Children as young as 8 years were often employed in the mines. The young boys (mine-boys) often worked 12 hour shifts going up and down the ladders of several hundred feet to bring water, tools, powder, and other things to the miners who labored down below. A number of them, exhausted from the long days of work fell to their death from the ladders. The girls (bal-maidens) were also employed, usually as surface workers, called tin or copper dressers, with hammers breaking up the largers chunks of ore-laden material that was brought to the surface as part of the processing of the ore before it went to the stamps. In the mining districts, there were large numbers of children of both genders employed in mining occupations. | ||
There were many occupations related to mining, such as the production of the pumps, tools, and transport of the extracted ore. The Cornish pumps were exported to other places, and were largely responsible for the demise of the water mills that drained the polders in The Netherlands. Dozens of windmills could be (and were) replaced by one Cornish pump. The mining of copper and tin elsewhere, particularly in the Western Hemisphere, could be done more inexpensively, and led to the collapse of the mining industry in Cornwall in the latter part of the 19th century. This triggered the Cornish Diaspora, where a major part of the population left Cornwall for employment anywhere mines were operating throughout the world. | There were many occupations related to mining, such as the production of the pumps, tools, and transport of the extracted ore. The Cornish pumps were exported to other places, and were largely responsible for the demise of the water mills that drained the polders in The Netherlands. Dozens of windmills could be (and were) replaced by one Cornish pump. The mining of copper and tin elsewhere, particularly in the Western Hemisphere, could be done more inexpensively, and led to the collapse of the mining industry in Cornwall in the latter part of the 19th century. This triggered the Cornish Diaspora, where a major part of the population left Cornwall for employment anywhere mines were operating throughout the world. | ||