MOUNTAIN PARK, April 8--More than 150 miners were thrown out of work as a result of closing down of the Mountain Park Coals Ltd. mine at midnight last night.
Shutting down has been anticipated for the last two weeks, but yesterday afternoon miners were ordered to take out their tools and the last shift went to work at 6 p.m.
UNCERTAIN MARKET
Uncertainty of the market is given as the reason for closing.
The underground mine, with an average daily output of about 1,000 tons of steam coal, had been in operation for approximately 30 years. One section of the mine, recently opened, is understood to contain more than a million tons of coal.
STRIP MINE CONTINUES
Strip mine and tipple will continue to operate and provide employment for 75 to 80 men.
Most of the miners have been with the company for many years and it is presumed seniority will be taken into consideration in future employment.
It is also expected that the big pump, which kept the mine from flooding, will remain in partial operation as it also supplies water for the steam-electric plant during the winter months.
Mountain Park is about 30 air miles east of Jasper.
Edmonton Bulletin, 8 April 1949