Pittsburg State University - Kanza Yearbook (Pittsburg, KS)

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What began in the early 1800s as mines for lead and zinc has turned into a fishermen's haven. Those who visit the pits now find not only a variety of fish, but also a scenic array of greenery. — Ragan Todd The recent renovation of Big Brutus, one of the largest coal shovels of its kind, has attracted many visitors to the area. This set of visitors came to the big shovel for a special occasion — a marriage ceremony. — Buzz Palmer Mining Pits 77

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A variety of activities are all part of Life in the Pits Besides offering a variety of en- tertainment opportunities, the deserted mining pits provide a colorful sight. Flowers and wild grasses add to the untamed look of some of the pits. — Pittsburg is not a large city full of theaters, concert halls and large shopping centers. Once the wonders of the Pittsburg Mall are exhausted, students have to use their imaginations to think of things to do for entertainment. This self-styled entertainment often revolves around the former mining pits that dot the Southeast Kansas countryside. The pits can be used for such activities as swimming, fishing and sunbathing. Although the pits are now used for entertainment purposes, they once played a major role in the economic life of Pittsburg. According to Frank Wilson, contributor to the book Kansas Geology, mining first began in the Southeast Kansas area in the early 1800s, when lead and zinc began to be mined near Galena. Railroads were built to carry out fhe mined ore, and this led to the need for coal, a more efficient and less bulky fuel than wood. Coal mining became one of the most important industries in the area. It was at this time that Pittsburg was founded. At first, the town was just a small coal camp. It was during the lead and zinc boom of 1878 that Pittsburg began to develop, due to the establishment of zinc smelters in the town. Although strip mining came into use in 1870, it was not widely used until 1950. Instead, most mining companies used shaft mines. Strip mining was used in areas where the coal was too thin to be mined from underground, leaving unsightly pits. In strip mining, shovels or draglines dig long, narrow trenches from which the coal is extracted. Wilson describes the strip mined area as resembling a huge plowed field in which each of the ridges and furrows is 100 feet wide and 50 feet deep. As the shovels move forward, lengthening the trench, they fill in the trench behind them with the dirt from the new trench. In the final section, digging is completed and there is no dirt with which to fill in the trench. It is left empty, eventually fills with water, and becomes a pit. Although pits are useful for entertainment, they are not very useful for much else. Because of this, the Kansas Legislature, passed a law in 1969 requiring mining companies to level stripped land to a rolling terrain and to plant trees and grasses. Currently, there are 40,000 acres of strip mined land in Cherokee and Crawford Counties. Continued on page 12 70 Mining Pits

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Residents of Pittsburg respect and appreciate the abandoned mines for two reasons. Not only do they represent the town's origin, but today they provide an option for entertainment, Kent Misse, Pitt- sburg High School junior, enjoys the sunshine and the swing rope located at a pit east of Pittsburg. — Less Coss The pits are stocked with croppie, catfish and bass, a delight for avid fishermen. Shane Krutl, Osawatomie junior, takes advantage of the quiet seclusion of a water-filled pit to pursue his sport. — Dale Bratton Continued from page 10 Area residents have found many ways of utilizing the remaining pits. Steve Kissane, Colgan High student, like many others likes to spend hot summer afternoons swimming in the pits. 'Tve lived here for 15 years and spent two or three days each week out of the summer at the pits. My friends and I usually go to the pits out Quincy Street, There's a swing rope there that we jump off of. It's really fun, cheap entertainment. Some people think it's dangerous, but we're real careful. If there was a bunch of people out here drinking it would dangerous. The three wheelers that kids ride out here are more dangerous than swinging off the bank. Tami Roskoski, Overland Park junior, spends her Labor Day weekend at the pits. Every year since I've been going to PSU, I've lounged on a raft all Labor Day at the pits. It's about the only time I can make it out there because I spend my summers working at home. Usually Labor Day is the last time my friends and I can go enjoy the sun for the year. We take picnic lunches, rafts, suntan lotion, something to drink and have our own little party. At this time of year, most of the locals have burned out on the pits, and we have it all to ourselves, Roskoski said. Fishing is another form of entertainment found at the pits. Rob Kaelin, Topeka junior, is an expert fisherman of the old mine land. I especially like to fish in the pits. It is secluded, quiet, and packed with bass. They are also full of croppie and catfish, but I'm after the bass. It makes the time go faster when a bunch of us all get together with a loaded cooler of beer and fish for hours. Yeah, I can't decide which I like better — fishing at the pits or drinking at the pits — so I do them both! Rob Wood, Pittsburg junior, also likes to fish in the pits. According to Wood, The pits have a lot of bass, perch and croppie. We own land with pits which 72 Mining Pits