Nagy Károly: Somsálybánya története (Borsodi Kismonográfiák 20. Miskolc, 1985)

The first level was sunk in 1854/55, however largescale production began merely in the early years of 20th century, while it came to large-scale mechanization between 1905 and 1913. It is characteristic of increase of coal-production that while 330 miners were employed in 1905, this figure went up to 622 in 1907, production of the mine was 99 400 tons in 1906, while it increased to 111 128 tons in 1909. Coal production was set back during the first World War, it ran to merely 110 tons in early 1919. Shrinkage on production was going on during the world-crisis and touched the bottom in last days 1944 when the Germans blew up the railway tracks and dismounted the great part of mining machinery, however they did not get out of the country and finally got back to Somsály after the War. In order to start production again the Sovietunion rendered help forwarding 17 boring machines, one loader and 1200 metre belt for conveyors. After Liberation in 1945 workers had to be enrolled again, they came mainly from Hajdú-Bihar-, Csongrád- and Bács-Kiskun-Counties. 1250 workers and 5—10 apprentices were employed in 1965. Development reached a significant stage on 1st January 1952 when the Coalmining Trust for ózd-district, then later with amalgamation of mining enterprises in Borsod coal-basin the Borsod Coalmining Company was set up in 1974. Shortly after opening the mine it was required to build lodgings for workmen, since they came from a great distance, Slovakian-, Austrian-, German- and Czecho-Moravian-territories and began exploitation at Somsály. Construction of miners' colony was begun in 1903 involving a building for officers, 3 buildings for attendants, 12 buildings for workers and a bunkhouse at the beginning. The ground was enlarged in 1905 by that time workers of the mine lived in 150 flats of 28 houses while 186 flats were at their disposal in 1913. Flats looking on the street consisted of room-kitchenchamber, while lodging was ensured for 250 workers in 32 rooms of five barrack-flats. Skilled workmen with their families lived in flats, barracks were for use of miners enrolled in the country. Houses were set out with low windows and to two flats were attached a yard with an oven in the middle. In the yard of 5 metre wide animals were kept. First labourers' hostel for 66 persons was finished in 1934, where only supper was available, provisions, bed-clothes had to be brought from home. 134