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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, January 5, 1993                   TAG: 9301050441
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

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THE CAUSE OF MINE DISASTERS

WHAT IS a coal mine? The recent coverage of the Norton mine disaster was well presented by the newspaper. However, a coal mine is a miniature volcano.

Mine disasters are brought on by owners and operators. Their slogan is: Kill a man, we will hire another; kill a mule, we will buy another.

So work comes down to the operators: "Your tonnage was very good last month; however, not good enough. Your tonnage must increase. Inform your mine foreman that if they don't do this, we will find someone who will!"

As a former coal miner, this, in my opinion, is the cause of coal mine disasters. WINFORD E. LESTER ROANOKE

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