Social Conditions and Iron Mining in Industrial Biscay

The Novel's Setting: Miners' Lives in Industrial Biscay

The text is divided into two main paragraphs. The first describes the workers' housing and introduces the main character of the novel, Aresti, who serves as the witness to the terrible living conditions of the miners. Aresti is inspired by Doctor Areilza, who worked in the miners' hospital of Triano at the end of the 19th century.

Aresti: Witness to Terrible Living Conditions

The second paragraph is divided into two parts: the first discusses the awful workers' housing, and the second details the appalling working conditions in the mines.

Quarry vs. Mine: Distinguishing Dangerous Work

The author makes a distinction between the quarry and the mine, noting that the quarry was the most dangerous because skill was not needed, allowing any man to work there. Many workers came from Castille, pushed by hunger. The author affirms that bad working conditions would only be resolved when new workers stopped coming.

Historical Context of Iron Exploitation

Somorrostro Iron Mining: From Roman Times to Bessemer

The exploitation of iron in Somorrostro dates back to Roman times. In the Middle Ages, it was exploited to be burnt in the “ferrerías” (ironworks) of Biscay and Gipuzkoa. However, it was not until 1835, when the Bessemer converter was invented, that Biscay's iron became highly appreciated. This was because it was naturally free of sulphide, a quality found only in Biscay and Sweden.

This unique quality led to the large-scale exploitation of the mineral by British companies. Most of the mineral was exported to England, and the resulting profits were invested locally in creating new factories near the Nervión River, such as Altos Hornos de Vizcaya (High Furnaces of Biscay).

The Rise of the Proletariat and Social Change

This novel vividly depicts the social situation of Biscay during industrialization. Although the events described in the novel are dated 1903, they reflect the emergence of a new social class—the proletariat—which was born in the last years of the 19th century.

Life in the Barracks and Working Conditions

A demographic boom led to a flood of immigrants into the mines of Triano. These people lived in barracks, huddled together in terrible conditions. They came from regions including:

• Gipuzkoa
• Álava
• Burgos
• Cantabria
• La Rioja

They arrived as casual workers with the intention of returning to their native places after earning some money. The barracks were dreadful places: they lacked toilets, often housed more than 100 beds, and one bed was typically shared by two or three workers.

Appalling Housing, Diet, and the 1890 Strike

It was often compulsory for workers to live in these huts and to shop exclusively at the mining company's canteens. Prices were very high, and the food quality was very bad. The basic diet consisted of bread, bacon, beans, chickpeas, potatoes, and wine. This lack of vitamins explains the workers' weakness and susceptibility to illnesses.

They also had to work long hours without a break. Protests against these conditions led to one of the first major strikes in the Basque Country, occurring in 1890. Thanks to the strike, compulsory barracks and company shops were closed, and a 10-hour workday was established.