The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-31
Anthracite COlliery Visited and 9
Coal Breaker and Washery
Seen I'm Operation.
TRIP LASTED EIGHT HOURS
AND THE ARBITERS RETURNED TO
SCRANTON GRIMY AND TIRED.
Many Questions Asked by the Investi-
gatOrs-What Constitutes q Miners
Ton of Coal.

SCRANTON, Pa, Oct. 30-The seven
commissioners appointed by President
Roosevelt to adjust the differences existing
between the anthracite mine workers and
their employers, to-day made a tour OF
the extreme upper coal field and saw every
step taken in the production of coal from
the time it is blasted from the ground hun
dreds of feet below the surface up to the
point where 1t is sent to market ready for
the use of the consumer. The arbitrators
had an interesting day and returned to
their hotel tonight grimy from coal dust
and tired after eight busy hours of observa-
tion and investigation. The trip was quite
a novelty to most of those in the party The
commissioners displayed the greatest in
terest in every feature of coal mining. The
seven arbitrators had to endure many dis
comforts, make their way through wet
places in the mines, almost crawl along
some of the gangways and perhaps through
clouds of coal dust in the breakers. Not
withstanding their eagerness for informa-
tion was not diminished, and they expect
to put in another days work tomorrow in
this vicinity. Bishop Spalding asked more
questions than any Of the others.
From their actions to-day 1t is certain
that the commissioners have agreed not to
say what they think Of the questions that
will come before them. Several persons ap-
preached one or another of the commits
sioners during the day for the purpose of
having him say what he thought of the
things he saw, and in each case the in
quirer was rebuffed.
To-days tour consisted of an inspection
Of y,a;n of he
Company, operated by the Erie Company
at West City, and the Carbondale coal
breaker Of the Delaware and Hudson Com
pany. On the run up the Lackawanna val
ley the commissioners viewed with interest
the various mining towns along the Della
ware & Hudson Railway. The start was
made from this city at 10 o'clock. In the
corders Mosely and Neill and four stenog-
raphers. Accompanying them were Gen
eral Superintendent r. A. Phillips of the
road Company; General Manager w. A.
May, of the Erie: General Superintendent
j. r. Dryden, of the New York, Ontario &
Western, and General Manager B. Thorne,
workers were represented by Charles d.
Nichols Henry Collins, the Rev. Peter
Roberts, OF Mahanoy City, and James Mar
rick, Of New York. the latter an expert.
Besides, there was in the party about a
dozen newspaper correspondents.
HOW THEY TRAVELLED.
A special train of two Pullman cars and
day coach, which was chartered at the
expense of the commissioners, carried the
party. The rear car was used for observa-
ton purposes by the commissioners and
they spent all their time in 1t, both In GO
ing and coming. There was large map OF
the coal field. The commissioners studied
IL carefully and its many features were ex-
planned TO them by Commissioner Watkins
who is an expert In coal mining and who
was formerly an independent coal operator.
At each OF the mining villages a small
group of persons was gathered who curl
ously watched the train.
when the party arrived at Forest CITY
a crowd OF persons, among whom there
were some mine workers, were also gath
cred. There was no demonstration. the
people quietly standing by watching the
arbitrators. A short drive was taken
through the town to give the commits
sioners an opportunity TO view the homes
OF the mine workera. and then the entire
party was bundled into three small cars
What is known IN the language OF the
miner az q ''lokio.. which Il . small loco
motive, drew the cars to the No. shan, 4
mile distant down the valley. Here the