Reader comments
Murray offering jobs in Ohio and Illinois to Utah miners

Murrey is a wind bag. A self made man that thinks he could boss, elected officials, and mhsa around. What bob murry doesn't understand is. He will be the easy scape goat, with his quick temper, and windy self. MHSA and this present adminastration will not take the fall for his little mines in utah

Good for Mr. Murry, bad for the miners, Nice job big mouth Gov. Politicians always have to spout off on things they know nothing about. How many men does the Gov want to kill trying to find the missing. I know nothing about mining but when I see people killed in the rescue effort in such a dangerous situation I wonder how many more the Gov wants to die. At least I admit I know nothing. Get back to spending all of our tax money Mr. Huntsman and leave the coal mining to the experts.

All of Murray's mines should be shut down and Richard Stickler fired from MSHA.

Alan, do you have your job?
I can think of 270 people who do not and it's not necessarily because of safety issues it's because of politics.

I say if Hunstman thinks it's safe to rescue the trapped miners that he be the first to go in. Put up or shut up. If anyone thinks this is situation is something more than a politician finding a no lose situation to spout rhetoric and win votes needs to look more closely at Huntsman's past with regard to mining and MSHA.

Did any of you actually read the stories about Governor Huntsman? He was willing to stand up and tell Mr. Murray that calling the families "irrational" while they are still suffering through this tragedy was "unconscionable". I would hardly call that political rhetoric. The fact that Mr. Murray actually made good on his threat is only more proof that Governor Huntsman's criticism was valid and proof that Mr. Murray does not care about his miners despite his impassioned speeches to the contrary.

**sigh**

Bob Murray has come a long way in life. He comes from a poor mining family and yet rose through the ranks to become a self-made millionaire. I'm sure he has learned many things along the way including the value of making generous campaign donations.

It is a shame that the most important things in life he has yet to learn. Compassion, honesty, integrity, and wisdom have all eluded him. Most importantly he has failed to learn that respect isn't obtained by bullying others nor can it be bought.

Getting in a shouting match with the families of those who have lost loved ones on his watch is unconscionable. Laying off 300 miners in an attempt to punish the Governor who came to the defense of those grieving families was cruel.

Bob Murray wants everyone from the Governor on down to show him deep respect and call him "Mr. Murray". I think he needs to get used to the idea that he is going to be known by another title from now on - the one he has actually earned - that of "Petty Tyrant".

Do you think Huntsman Chemical puts no workers at risk and that the Huntsman family "didn't crack a few eggs" to make their omelet?

This is a very sad situation. The Governor should have known better than to begin criticizing the mine owner while the bodies of the miners are still in the ground. He is showing his immaturity. This is not the time for his criticism of Mr. Murray. As for Mr. Murray, he is either doing what must be done to save his company or doing what he hopes will get back at the Governor. He seems a difficult man to understand. But either way, the miners are caught in the middle. Huntsman ought to meet with Mr. Murray, call a truce, and do whatever he can to keep the miners employed in Utah.

Gov, Huntsman should be investigated for opening Utah's gates to all the Illegal Criminals. There has and will be more deaths at their hands, than in all the mines in Utah.... If Mr. Murry wants to shut down all of his mines, that is his business.... Bureaucrats have no place in private business.... Politics as usual. And for the rest of you, it is so easy to be a Armchair Quarterback.....

Two large egos and we are the on left to suffers the consequences. You have now turned your back on the whole community Mr. Murray. Shame on you.
His "experts" are giving him an out by saying his mines aren't safe, and he's trying to turn it back on the Huntsman. The truth is the conditions in Crandell Canyon are no different than any mine in Utah. So I guess for safety we just shut down the whole industry, and put everyone out of a job. Now the national media has left, after criticizing everything about the way we earn a living here. Now that we have lost our jobs where are they now? Haven't we suffered enough? Now it is we who are left to suffer the fallout because of political agendas and off target media headlines.
This community is strong and we WILL survive, now the only question is when will the outside influences let us get to it and take care of OUR business.

Now that I have ranted, I want to clarify one thing. I believe the majority of the local media has done a wonderful job of covering what is important. Thank you Deseret News, SL Trib, Ktvx, and Kstu. You have shown compassion, and understanding where others it seems can't even get the facts straight. You have kept the focus where is needs to be, and that is on those that are trapped and have gave their lives. There is a time and place for everything, and this is not the place nor the time for a soapbox.

I've not been one to stick up for Mr. Murray, but it seems possible to me that he is closing this one mine because he now has questions about the safety of the methods of extreme deep soft coal mining his company was employing, that he didn't have before.

I know that he went on his Huntsman 700 job tirade the other day, but I'm not convinced - yet - that this is his fulfillment of that promise of revenge. It may be an honest reassessment of a situation which we are all learning more about daily.

1. There is no question everything has been done to get the miners out.
2. Boring a 30" hole 2000 feet long then putting a capsule in it lowering it down with a live person in that mine with the mountain still settling is a suicide mission.
3. There are hundreds of miners buried still entombed in mines all across the U.S.
4. This is a horrible tragedy and my heart and prayers undoubtedly go out to all involved in this. INCLUDING MR.MURRY. he may be a rambling old man, but I respect that man. He has sweated and earned every penny he has and now he has had a terrible tragedy. I saw Mr. Murry everyday at the rescue site in the mine and feel he has done everything he can.
5. Yes I believe Mr Murry may have been gruff with the family, but he has been attacked by people who have ABSOULUTELY NO IDEA ABOUT MINING!
6. SO all of you who think you know about mining and the pain and heartache of those of us who are now out of a job because of people who have no Idea what is going on. That section of mine is off limits and should be sealed. A proper ceremony for the families should be prepared, and a memorial should be errected and mining should continue.

Mining has always been a dangerious venture, there is not a underground mine out there that has not suffered some kinds of injuries, no matter what safty precauions that have been taken! Let MSHA decide if the Crandle Canyon Mine has been taken the nessassary step to be safe, and if it should reopened.
Gov Huntsman has heard the outcry of the people and is only trying to calm things down. The truth of the matter is, if anyone of us were in that mine we would hope that the community would rally to have the mine continue to dig for us if there was any chance of rescue. I hope the famillys of the miners in time, will find peace and know that most of this nation prayed for them!

"Carbon County Miner", when you say "those of us who are now out of a job because of people who have no Idea what is going on", are you saying that Robert Murray laid you off in order to get revenge on Utah's governor, or are you just blowing smoke?

I agree with the Carbon County Miner. I too feel bad for Mr. Murray, as this is not his fault. And I thing Gov. Huntsman needs to back off and let the system work. Investigations are already set in place, there is no need for him to waste state money to order additional investigation just to act like a hero..IMHO

There is a grieving process in a tragedy, part of that is anger, which family, friends, city, county and state have felt. When we have anger, we need to have a bad guy, Mr Murry was there at the right time and the right place. I do not always like the way he deals with things, but I do know that he is speaking from his core, that he is not saying anything he doesn't believe. Takes one to know one, bad part of that, is sometimes people are offended by the truthfulness and the directness. When Mr. Murray spoke words of hope, those were real to him, until the mine proved otherwise. I am sure that he frustrated the families, due to his being very upfront, and when hope was lost, he was being honest. I believe we have all hoped the miners would be found and each of us at different points had to accept that was not going to happen. We know that Mr. Murray wasn't running this from an arm chair, he was in there first thing when the 2nd tragedy happened. I believe that anger needs to be taken out of this, it needs to start with top government officials, owners of the company, the community and the family. Anger will not find the miners, it will not stop the mountain from it's constant "bumping", it will not heal the anguished heart. There are so many hearts that need to heal, and my hope is that those who have lost loved ones, will be able to find peace and comfort during this time. I hope that those who are in the professional arena, be it government, owners, mining organizations or "helpful" attorneys, will let go of what they feel, and think of the families.

Back in the day, textile mills employed child labor, and many children died - some quickly with limbs caught in spindles, and others more slowly from brown lung. I have no doubt that clergy and other pious folk showed up at their funerals and urged "prayer" and "healing".

What finally put a stop to child labor in New England textile mills was political action, and unions. Prayer played a role - by inciting political action in behalf of human interests, not by rolling over and pretending that mill owners were really just great people who happened to put seven year olds in dangerous positions.

my heart goes out to those who have lost loved ones at crandell canyon.i know from loseing people very close to me in industrial accidents how senseless it seems.i can only say to the miners families think of the danger to those you are asking to risk their lives to rescue your loved ones.is there realy enough air for anyone to still live,will there be more bumps that might kill more rescuers.be honest do you want more bodies,i think not.as sad as it is perhaps it is time to accept that nothing else can be done.please dont pressure more people to face those dangers if there is nothing to be gained.