Neat! I think we should still use convict labor. In fact, my County does to a certain degree. We still have a chain gang that works the road sides picking up trash, etc. but I doubt they are hardened criminals. I have seen them wearing vests that say on the back “I’m a drunk driver” or “I’m a shoplifter” and stuff like that.
I do too but in this case the legitimate paid miners had a good reason or reasons to fight back especially safety. Two mines up there blew up a few years later. One killed every adult male of working age in town. I used to work for a county contracted nursing home in Knox County. The Knox County workhouse was across the road. We would go there and sign them out for labor such as yard work.