Strip mining operations begin in the Medicine Bow area. While Judge Garth sees the mining as ""progess"" other locals see it as a threat to their way of life and also do not like the influx of polish miners. Amongst the miners' families is the beautiful Polcia (Ulla Jacobsson). A ""love quadrangle"" develops as three men desire Polcia: Jan (Dean Fredericks) the son of the leader of the miners, Jack Anderson (Don Galloway) the son of the rancher most opposed to the mining, and Trampas, who had been assigned by Judge Garth to assist the miners in getting settled and who is Polcia's true love. Fueled by ethnic sentiments events escalate into a series of conflicts and tragedies.