From the Oct. 26, 1972 News Record:

The metallic chatter of heavy steel wheels on rail will be heard for the first time this week at Amax Coal’s Belle Ayr mine. Friday is the date set for the first shipment of 5,000 tons of coal, a test load bound for Iowa Power and Light Co. Furnaces in Des Moines. Hauls of 5,000 to 10,000 tons will hardly make a dent in the pit of Belle Ayr — some two million tons have been exposed since the pit construction began July 5. And Amax’s mine area of 6,000 acres has coal reserves exceeding 450 million tons. The contracts, however, call for staggering amounts of coal. The Colorado Public Service agreement is for a total of 1.5 million tons. It runs until 1995. Mine Manager Bob James says contracts that he has in hand now call for coal shipments through the ye

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