The document summarizes the history of mining in Poland. Mining has been an important industry in Poland since ancient times, providing income and resources like coal. While miners initially had low social status, over time they gained more rights and formed mining associations. Early mining techniques were primitive, but technology advanced with the introduction of equipment like rails, horses, and steam machines. Polish mining history is also reflected in mining symbols, colors, and the patron saint Barbara, celebrated on December 4th. The document concludes with a Silesian legend about an overseer named Skarbnik who helps a poor boy earn enough money to keep his mining job and support his family.

2. Miner is a profession that
links with not only physical
effort. Its specific feature
is exposure to danger
and loss of health or life.
Besides, the miners are
the people who must have
a unique strength to the
very difficult conditions of
work and serenity.
Through the work of
miners, we can enjoy
every day with the right
amount of electricity and
in the winter we don’t
have to worry about that
get cold.

3. Mining in Poland was very important to the
functioning of our country since immemorial
times. To this day, this industry is counted as
one of the important sources of income Poland
and the coal mined in our country has
numerous applications. The exploitation began
in the late fifteenth / sixteenth century in Silesia,
which is still considered a kind of „cradle of the
Polish mining industry”.

4. The first miners came from among the slaves and peasants. It
is no wonder that as mining expanded its areas, miners
changed their status.
They became craftsmen and thus receive special
rights and privileges. In addition, miners were allowed
to tie associations free miners - the so-called mining
companies.

5. Working miners
(90’s of 20th century)
At first for the extraction
of coal they used rather
primitive means or tools.
As technology
progressed, introduced
more modern and easier
to work solutions such as
iron rails, transport horse
or steam hoisting
machines. Over time,
there was also
machinery and
equipment powered by
electricity.

6. Perlik and żelazko Mining flag – you can see two
important colours (green and
Black)
History of Polish mining industry is not only
the development and creation of important
educational centers. The emblems of mining
are : ( two crossing hammers: Perlik - iron
hammer and żelazko - iron wedge) and colors
symbolizing the profession (green - a symbol
of longing for the light, the outside world and
black - a symbol of the dark corridors of the
mine) and miners holiday (Barbórka).

7. Saint
Barbara
(Barbórka)
–
patroness
of miners.
We celebrate
her holiday on
4th December.

8. Silesian legend about Skarbnik
Silesian mines are big and mysterious kingdom of the Skarbnik.
There are many stories about meeting with Skarbnik and everyone
tells, that he's a raw and righteous ruler. This story took place at a
time when the olive lamps illuminate underground walkways,
horses pulled the wooden carts, and the miners were getting paid
cash after each finished day of work. Then one thirteen years old
boy went to the one of Bytom mines. He came from a very poor
family where the father died and his mother couldn't feed seven
younger siblings. A friend foreman was refusing from take to the
work that poor kid, but in the end the whole family persuaded him.
He put one condition, that if within a week the boy won't make as
much carbon, as the adult companions, he will have to leave the
mine. When at the end of the third day foreman paid him only half
of that, what other miners earned, the boy sat down on a block of
coal and wept bitterly. Suddenly, out of nowhere before him
appeared the gray, old man, who asked him with a warm voice
about the reason for worry. Through tears boy honestly tell stranger
about his family and the agreement with the foreman.
,,I'll help you, if you'll keep this meeting in secret and you'll
fairly share with me earned money.” Skarbnik replied him.

9. The End
The boy gladly agreed to the proposal of a stranger. Over the
next four days, when no one could see, the old man with the boy
chopped carbon and Skarbnik did it with such ease and verve, as if
he was a twenties. At the end of each of the shifts foreman with
growing amazement watching the actions of the boy, but without a
word he paid him owed ​​money. On the seventh day, and it was on a
Christmas Eve, the foreman announced him the good news: the
acceptance to work on a permanent basis. When the foreman's
footsteps were no longer heard, the stranger again appeared
opposite the lad and said:
„You've got a job, and I came for my part of the consideration!”
„I'll leave for myself only as much money as I should have. The rest
is up to you, good sir.” Boy replied.
„Keep it all for yourself and remember: always be honest as you are
now, and fortunately will never leave you!” Skarbnik smiled and
disappear in the dark.

10. SKARBNIK

11. Bibliography:
 http://gambitgl.pl/pl/klienci/gornictwo-przetworstwo-wegla.html
 http://www.nettg.pl/news/105624/konferencje-takie-sa-wyzwania-dla-
gornictwa
 http://www.biztok.pl/Szukaj/+g%26oacute%3Brnictwo
 http://www.gornicza.com.pl/?mod=Periodics&acn=exeConcrete&id=1705
 https://pl.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Godło_górnicze
 http://www.gornicza.com.pl/?mod=Periodics&acn=exeConcrete&id=1160
 http://industrialna.silesia.travel/pl/t/Historia_przemyslu
 http://www.wikom.pl/zssbrzeziny/strona213.htm
 http://www.digart.pl/grupy/580/Ilustracja/praca/3132859/Skarbnik.html#.UWx
kn5Ly30c
 http://miastofoto.wordpress.com/2012/02/05/bojki/
 http://www.szybkrystyna.pl/legenda_o_skarbniku.html

12. This presentation was made
by
Natalia Witalis
for Blogtrotters across
Europe project