One of the physical factors that caused high mining cost was the steep pitch of the coal seams, particularly on the lower levels. This combined with poor roof and soft pavement on the floor required additional labour, as well as machinery and power, for handling face machinery, timber, and other supplies. Also, mine fires occurred from time to time due to spontaneous combustion and resulted in considerable expense and, loss of coal. The operating cost of pumping water and hoisting the small tonnage warranted the closure of the large mines. The future implied the opening of small mines which for the most part had a limited life. The pattern and future of these operations were summarized aa follows by the L.E. Young Report (1951):

1.A.J. Campbell Mine ~ life, less than one year; production in 1950 was 5,232 tons.

2.MacDonald Mine No. 1, Margaree Steamship Co. Ltd. - life, less than one year; production was 24,875 tons in 1950.

3.MacDonald Mine No. 3, Margaree Steamship Co. Ltd. - life, less than two years; production was 17,507 tons in 1950.

4.J.A. MacLellan Nine - life, less than two years; production in 1950 was 1,857 tons.

5.S.J. Doucet, RosebankNo. 2 Mine - life, over five years; production In 1950 was 5,640 tons.

The small mines lasted longer than expected and employed a small number of men through the 1950's. Other small mines would open and close but they hardly had a chance to survive. When the Provincial Government requested a second study in 1951, the Community of Inverness prepared for the worst. Undertaken by L.E. Young, a mining engineer from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, it echoed the Dr. Haites Report, posed no solutions, and recommended closure. The Government had no alternative but to follow Young's Report, Governments would reward a series of grants to the mining operators in the next decade but mining as a major industry in Inverness ended with the L.E. Young Report. Governments were not generous in the amount of funds they provided after 1951. Although approximately one hundred men still worked the fields it seemed that they were a forgotten entity.

The decade from 1950-60 was an uncertain one for the people and miners of Inverness. The work force was there and willing to produce but the Government was dealing with financial statistics that implied a withdrawal from the Inverness Mining Fields. The community was desperate for support and sent several delegations to Halifax requesting funding. Their attempts were valiant and praiseworthy but Government Officials stood their ground. They provided small grants in the early 50's in order to barely maintain the vast majority of workers in the town. Soon the funding would be totally cancelled and the mines temporarily closed.

When private operators initiated a return to the mines in the latter 50's and early 60's fee system of grants returned. Financial assistance provided at this time was probably motivated by political rather than practical reasons and left the miner and his family scraping for a meagre existence. His wages were, to say the least, an insult to his integrity and reputation as a sincere and hard-working individual. For example, wages of forty dollars per week and sometimes less were not uncommon in the early 60's. The mines and its operators were hanging by a thread that was about to snap. The miners were working their last shovel of coal from the ground that opened a town. Since 1951 many predicted an end to the community of Inverness but the spirit and enthusiasm of its people was not broken. This was especially evident in the summer of 1954.