| LM.C often had to deal with trucks getting stuck, but this did not get in their way of mining the rich iron ore of Bomi Hills. The other half of the year, the enemy was the hot sun parching any earth that is bare. The machines and men fought to win against the tropical elements and to make the mine more profitable and to mine the ore. Month after month, year after year the ore came out, as much as 12,000 tons per day. The Liberia Mining Company was a multicultural corporation, and people came from all over to work for L.M.C The local labor force was also a valuable asset to the Liberia Mining Company. He was usually born hinterland and had no formal education but with the years they worked for L.M.C gave them new skills, experiences and income. Each day the blasting crew carefully set off the charges to go off at 5pm marking the end of day shift. The darkness comes quickly, almost suddenly at Bomi Hills characteristics of the tropics |
| Bomi Hills Liberia |
| Nighttime did not bring the end to the mining activity; ore broken loose by the 5 0’clock blast was scooped up and loaded into turcks, 26 tons per load. All night aand the next morning the loading continued while the blasting crerw drilled for the next blast. Most of the iron ore at Bomi Hills was hematite averaging 68 precent iron. Power shovels, diesel or electric driven loaded the ore into the huge trucks. Lcal village men, only a few years ago might nooot have seen an automoblie, handled powerful machines with skill. An example of this success story was Joseph Smallwood forman of the course crusher, he joined L.M.C in 1948. Like many employees he was able to invest in a rubber farm, also grew coffee, pineapple and cassava plants. All the Hematite was crushed into three sizes and was sampled on regular schedule for laboratory analysis to make sure it was all the same high quality. The two larger sizes of iron ore were ready to go right into a blast furnace or open heart. The smallest sixes called fines goes directly into a blast furnace a seamlessly endless supply, 45 tons per Harper car. The lower grade ore goes to the Bomi hills mill where it was enriched by removing impurities. Mr. Walter Schiebe was the vice-president of the mine during that time, the mine was as modern and efficient as you would find anywhere. Bomi Hills had a diesel electric plant and generated 10,0000 kilowatts of power that supplied the entire community as well as the mining operations there. |
| The tropics were not easy to keep machinery at their top performance but the men at bomi did not let the elements get in their way. The locomotive shop helped keep the 7 diesel electric and two switchers keep running on time. The blacksmith ship bared little to the traditional bellow and charcoal fires found in to many tribal villages. The skills at Bomi Hills were as many and varied as you would find in any industrial community. Payday had the same meaning as it does anywhere, but the added significance was that for many it was the first opportunity for many Liberians to earn regular wages. The homes for the Liberian workers were clean and well maintained. There was a community kitchen where the Liberian village way of life was maintained. The Bomi Hills church was the meeting place where many faiths would attend church services each and every weekend. The staff school at Bomi Hills provided elementary education to all the employees children, and students attended school for 12 months of the year |
| Instead of long summer vacations, there were short vacations during the year. The school provided an excellent facility and superior teaching staff. The use of the school did not end at 3 o'clock; adult night classes were given to enhance the lives of employees working for L.M.C Public health was a major emphasis at Bomi. Medical attention was provided to employees and their families at no cost. The hospital at Bomi Hills was a 50 bed institution but it was so spacious it could easily be converted to 100 bed in case of an emergency. The staff included three doctors and 20 nurses, more nurses per patient than you would find in American hospitals. The hospital most important responsibility was preventive medicine. Five trains left Bomi Hills every 24 hours. The Liberian Mining Company maintained its own facilities at the Freeport of Monrovia. There was a staff of 300 men and the equipment was very modern. It only took them less than a hour to unload the entire train. It usually took 9-21 hours to completely load a ship. The railways of L.M.C provided a way for the farmers to get their product to market. Many new stores opened in Monrovia supplying the needs of the company known as L.M.C |
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