(解説文要約)
明治時代、傾斜が少なく短い水平坑道では、馬を使って運搬していました。
作業場が浅い場合は馬を毎日昇坑させていましたが 深いときは一週間位坑外には上げませんでした。
久し振りに昇坑した馬は、明るさと新鮮な空気に飛び跳ねて喜んでいたそうです。
坑内馬は背が低く、力の強いものを選んでいました。
中小のヤマでは、昭和初期頃も馬を使用していました。
On gentle slopes in short drives stretching 200-300 meters in the pit, horses were used for carrying coal.
If the workplace was close to the surface, they were taken outside everyday.
However, while working in deep drives, they had to stay underground for about a week.
When finally released outside, they leaped with joy at the fresh air and daylight.
Short, strong horses were selected to work in the pit.
They were in use at small or medium-sized mines until around 1930.