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Nadzór Starostwa Górniczego w Krakowie nad Kopalnią Soli w Wieliczce w latach 1872-1918

100%

Krokosz P.

Studia i Materiały do Dziejów Żup Solnych w Polsce

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2015

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issue 30

69-108

EN

Between 1860 and 1873, Galicia, which formed a part of the Habsburg Empire, received a number of social and political rights which remained in force until 1918 and became known in history as the period of “Galician Autonomy.” In 1871, the Minister of Galicia was appointed. The central state authorities were represented by an intendant (with the headquarters in Lvov), appointed by the emperor and subordinate to the government in Vienna; on the other hand, starosts from individual poviats and police directors were subject to the intendant. The chief local authority was the National Sejm, whereas the National School Council supervised education. Local government bodies were poviat and commune councils, elected locally. In 1869, Polish language was introduced as the official language of administration and courts in Galicia. The period of Galician Autonomy, so important for the entire Polish society that inhabited this crown-land (Kingdom of Galicia and Lodomeria), was equally significant for the functioning of the Wieliczka Saltworks. Spatial development of the mine took place during the rule of the Austrian administration; changes were introduced in salt deposit exploitation, production and transport of extracted salt. These activities required provision of proper security measures for the personnel working in the mine and for the tourists visiting the designated section of underground pits. Issues related to social benefits for the mine personnel also played a significant role. All these aspects required supervision on the part of relevant instances of mining authorities, i.e. the Mining Starosty in Cracow (since 1871) and the District Mining Office subordinate to it. Throughout all the years of its functioning, the Mining Starosty performed all tasks contained in the act that established in it a very meticulous – and sometimes even pedantic – manner. Relevant activities referred primarily to permanent control of the mine with respect to compliance with safety standards, both underground and on the surface (verification of technical status of the haulage machines, fire-extinguishing equipment, etc.). The Mining Starosty supervised the activities of the Wieliczka “Brotherly Fund” (“Kasa Bracka”), a mining self-help cooperative and other organisations operating by the saltworks. Supervision over the mine, and in particular over explosives used during mining work, acquired special dimension before the outbreak of WWI, when the Mining Starosty was made liable for strict implementation of guidelines of political and military authorities. The mining institutions established in 1871 continued to operate after Poland regained its independence in 1918 and survived, sometimes in slightly changed forms, until the 1920’s.

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Zagrożenie metanowe w Kopalni Wielickiej

80%

Charkot J., Wiewiórka J.

Studia i Materiały do Dziejów Żup Solnych w Polsce

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2015

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issue 30

109-127

EN

Methane threat has accompanied miners in the Wieliczka salt mine since the very beginning of salt extraction. Methane leaks caused serious impediments in safe conduct of underground work, whereas methane ignition and explosions resulted in burns and fatalities among the mining personnel. Increased probability of occurrence of this dangerous gas existed with respect to work in the “spiz” salt deposits and in the vicinity of southern and northern border of the bed. It also accumulated in significant amounts in the Crystal Grottoes and in their direct vicinity. Manners of eliminating methane threat changed throughout history: from preventive methane burning, improvement of ventilation and modern techniques of methane detection. Mining regulations were also used to ensure safety.

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Uwarunkowania historyczne i prawno–organizacyjne górniczo–konserwatorskiego zabezpieczania zabytkowych wyrobisk Kopalni Bocheńskiej

80%

Charkot J.

Studia i Materiały do Dziejów Żup Solnych w Polsce

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2016

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vol. 31

119-150

EN

The objective of this article is to present hitherto accomplishments in the area of protection of the mine understood as a monument in a legal sense. They are presented in reference to securing activities in the mine, effected throughout the history of its functioning. These issues have not been presented in a synthetic manner so far. The basic source material for the study was information accumulated in the course of documentation work conducted by the employees of the Cracow Saltworks Museum Wieliczka (in cooperation with engineers and technical employees from the Bochnia Salt Mine) underground. The manner of presentation of issues discussed in the study derives from an analogous article pertaining to the Wieliczka Salt Mine, presented in volume XXIII of this yearbook. The necessity of securing the mining pits in the Bochnia Salt Mine has been apparent since the very beginning of its commercial operation. Various solutions were applied, frequently quite untypical, adjusted to the specific geological structure of the deposit. The basic material was wood, used to line the rising headings, as well as drifts in the weak rock mass. Extensive chambers were propped up with support columns, usually filled with mining spoil and contaminated salt types. The specific nature of the Bochnia Salt Mine was that the support columns were constructed of thin alder and birch trunks. Support columns made of thick pine, spruce or fir wood were rarely used. Some of the selected areas were liquidated by being completely filled with waste rocks and post-production waste. Smaller of them, left without any means of protection, were completely clamped after several centuries. The original form of securing the chambers from the progressing destruction was leaving them at the edge of a thin salt shell. Until the 18th century, transport routes were designated in some of them via lining or support columns, which connected exploitation areas located on various depths. Conservation work in the legal sense began only after inclusion of the mine in the list of monuments in 1981, even though some of the projects undertaken earlier had this objective in mind, especially in the underground chapels. Mining and conservation work is performed in a zone included under protection, i.e. on levels from I to IX, in most valuable mining pits, selected on the basis of substantive criteria with respect to the values of the mining pits. The selection was made by the employees of the Cracow Saltworks Museum Wieliczka on the basis of materials accumulated during the systematic scientific and technical stock-taking conducted in the 1970s and 1980s; the list was approved by the Małopolska Province Monument Conservator in Kraków. It includes 65 chambers, 112 drifts, 3 shafts and 4 fore-shafts. Furthermore, the most valuable regions of the mine with respect to natural assets were encompassed by a detailed stocktaking in 2005 and subjected to additional legal protection on the basis of the Nature Conservation Act in the form of 27 documentation sites. The conservation authorities have also formulated guidelines pertaining to the procedure of preparing and performing work in the historical pits. The starting point is preparation of a historical and conservation study and subsequently a technical design relying on its recommendations. On this basis, permits are issued for the conduct of work in protected shafts, chambers and drifts. Direct supervision over the performance of work until 1999 was the obligation of the Province Monument Conservator in Tarnów, and later the Małopolska Province Monument Conservator in Kraków and, since 2016, the Cracow Saltworks Museum Wieliczka. The basic source of financing for the conservation projects are funds deriving from the state budget, which may be formally assigned for such a purpose since 2000. Earlier (since 1991) they were fully assigned to liquidation work. As of 2000, funds assigned for specific projects from the National Environmental Protection and Water Management Fund constitute a significant supplement for the financing. Relatively small funds are also generated by the tourist and spa activities pursued since 1995. The majority of mining and conservation work was performed by the mining team of the Bochnia Salt Mine. Tasks calling for specialist equipment and special qualifications of employees were commissioned from external companies. The basic part of the work was concentrated on levels from I to IV, in mining pits that are the most valuable with respect to the presented historical values. The speed of work gained momentum after the mine was classified as the monument of history (2000). Initially, the work focused on securing pits that are assigned for being made available to tourists on level IV, i.e. the August Chamber, and on level VI: the Sienkiewicz Chamber and the Dobosz Inter-level. As a result of them, in 1995 the conditions in the mine allowed for admission of organised groups to the mine for the first time in history. Later, work was conducted in drifts and chambers assigned for thematically oriented exhibitions. In the first period, the greatest mining and conservation projects included securing the central part of the August Drift, along with adjoining corridors and the extensive Ważyn Chamber. Its adjustment to perform recreational and sanatorium-type functions required a lot of effort. In the second stage, work performed in the complex of mining pits called Zejście Kalwaria, spreading from level I Danielowiec to level IV August, was of great importance, as well as work at eleven sections of Regis Stairs connecting these levels. It is also necessary to mention professional conservation of the 18th century Passionis Chamber and opening the 17th century Krucyfiks Chamber for tourists. Performance of mining and conservation work has acquired a special rank and should be an absolute priority after inclusion of the Salt Mine in the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2013.

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Dzieje Szybu Regis

80%

Charkot J., Gawroński W.

Studia i Materiały do Dziejów Żup Solnych w Polsce

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2012

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vol. 28

7-30

EN

The object of the study is the history of the oldest shaft – out of shafts that are still operating – of the Wieliczka Salt Mine. Hollowed out in the centre of the town in the middle of the 14th century, it continued to be the main mining shaft incessantly for approx. 600 years. It was the first shaft to be deepened below level I of the mine (18th century). Here, technical novelties in vertical transport were introduced and the first steam winding machine in Wieliczka was launched in 1861 and later an electric one (1912). The authors present the following issues in detail: construction and deepening of the shaft, modernization of winding machines, the salt mill and the surface infrastructure, changes in nomenclature and revitalization. Available historical sources were used, along with iconographic accounts, mining cartography and technical documentation. The Regis shaft, after completion of renovation work in 2012, started a “new life” contributing to streamlining of tourist traffic in the Wieliczka Salt Mine.

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4 Studia i Materiały do Dziejów Żup Solnych w Polsce

3 Charkot J.

1 Gawroński W.

1 Krokosz P.

1 Wiewiórka J.

1 2016

2 2015

1 2012

Nadzór Starostwa Górniczego w Krakowie nad Kopalnią Soli w Wieliczce w latach 1872-1918

Zagrożenie metanowe w Kopalni Wielickiej

Uwarunkowania historyczne i prawno–organizacyjne górniczo–konserwatorskiego zabezpieczania zabytkowych wyrobisk Kopalni Bocheńskiej

Dzieje Szybu Regis