Coal-Mining Safety in the Progressive Period

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The narrative explores the aftermath of devastating mine disasters in December 1907, particularly the Monongah tragedy that claimed 361 lives, which momentarily awakened public concern over industrial safety. William Graebner examines the subsequent push for mine safety reform during the Progressive Era, focusing on the Bureau of Mines and attempts at uniform state legislation. Despite the idealism behind these efforts, Graebner argues that they ultimately fell short, highlighting the tension between hope and failure in the quest for improved coal-mining safety.