New-York tribune., 1902-10-30
INQUIRY BEGINS TO-DAY.
THE COAL STRIKE COMMISSION AT
SCRANTON.
srvFpAr. DAYS To RE SPENT N IN
sPECTUIG MINES AND MINI
WORKERS HOMES.
lEy rEIEeBArH TO TIE TRIBUNE


Scranton. Penn. oct. % The Anthracite Coal
s,rske Commission viii start shortly after q
O'Clock tomorrow from Scranton on its hrst
DAYS investigation into the conditions existing
al the mines and miners villages. How long
the Investigation viii continue is not vet known.
Each part Of the anthracite region Is 10 he
visited. the commission spending time al Scran-
ton Wikesbarre, Hazleton. Shenandoah ana
Pottsviue. according 30 the present plan
Thomas II watkins of the commission spent
to-day making the plans for the first days tour
The commission arrived al Scranton az 1880
this evening and approved them. The commits
sioners. with the exception Of Bishop spalding,
are quartered an the Hotel Jermyn. where rooms
swaitcd them upon their arrival tonight
Bishop Spading is the guest Of Bishop Hoban
of the Scranton diocese.
Tomorrow viii he spent in the region north
of this citv AT 9l5 a. m. the party viii start
by the Delaware and Hudson Railroad tor For
est City. This mining Jown is in Susquehanna
County and is the upper edge Of the hard coal
5elds twenty-five miles from here. The oper-
stors VIII be represented by Mine Manager
Dryden of the New York. ontario and Western
Company. Superintendent Rose, OF the Della
ware and Hudson: General Manager Thorne, "f
the Temple Iron Company. and General Man
ager MAY. OF the Erie company. District Presi-
dent T. D. Nichols. of the miners union. win be
the principal representative OF the miners.
President Mitchell win not come Z" tins oltF
unless sent for.
The train viii travel slowly. so that the com
ra-ssioners can get a good idea of the country.
~ Forest city the party viii be lowered lhl"
one Of the Erie Companys mines, ana II is eA-
pected that the entire morning VIII ne Siel!'
un0eT ground As preCaution against acc,
dent q superintendent fre boss or piactl'al
miner will accompany each member Of the party
through the workings If the programme TOT
the dav is not disarTanged by later develop
n--l a~fof q a
miles south Of Forest City. a coal breaker VIII
be visited at Carhondale, and then the return
journey 10 scranton wlli be mace oNsI o,-;l Iilv
Ontario and Western Railroad. The coIlnlls-
Eioners viii stop al Olyphant. six miles noIlh
of Scranton for the purpose OF visiting olhei
coIlieries and 10 look al the homes ana sur
,orndines OF the mine workers. Scranton Will
he reached at about o'clock IN the eTenlh,
on Friday the commission will spend me daS
visiting coieries I'm and about the city ot 9crah-
ton and viewing the mining suburbs on oaCu. @ = :,
dsv the commission viii go 70 WilkesOaTfe 10
further prosecute their investigations ,-.
Mr. Watkins said to-day that the commission n
viii probahly not sit 10 take testimony until
after tour OF the region has been competed
n Is Dossible however. that a session VIII be
- = NF,-5s1. IN wilkes barre 10 receive the
statement 20 be presented by President Mitchell'
10 which the operators have agreed 70 max
answer within three days. II is almost certain
that no testimony will be taken in this city tins
week
..Tbe purpose Of the commission just AT pres
ent" Mr. Watkins said is 10 get a general view
of the physical conditions Of anthracite mining
with the idea OF giving the members OF the
commission unaCquainted with coal mining an
opportunity OF seeing what mine is like, how
the miners work and live, and how the product
Is handled With all the commissioners having
a general knowledge al least of these SUBJECTS
before we begin taking testimony. II VIII be
much easier for those who viii present testi-
rnony 10 have their statements intelligenuy ap-
preciated
Twenty-Five accountants were brought here
to-dav from New-York by the Erie company.
They viii assist the company's clerks in this
city in arranging data for presentation 10 the
commission.