The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-10-31
COMMISSION IN MINERS'
GARB VISIT COLLIERIES
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entered six mine cars fitted up with
seats and made as clean as possible.
The party were drawn mile or more
along the gangway directly south. The
guy wire was so low that the party
members were warned that death at
tended the man that touched them. Al
times the roof of the gangway was sc
near the tops of the cars that the party
were compelled to ride with bowed
heads. Thanks to continual warnings
however, the passage was made in safety
and without particular Inconvenience.
Good, Poor, and Medium Veins.
The plan of the trip was to visit por-
tions of the mines where three things
could be seen, vein where there was
good mining, a vein where there was
average mining, and. thin veins, where
the mining was poor and where the
danger was great and the rerurnsTofr the
miner small To reach thin veins 1t was
necessary to pass down plane and
reach the workings OF the Clifford mine,
adjoining, where there are veins of coal
two feet in thickness.
This plane was passed before the fact
was discovered. 1t was therefore neces-
sary to go back some distance. On the
return one of the small mine cars, that
bearing Genera! Wilson. Judge Gray, and
Messrs. Clark and Parker, left the track
and the occupants were given severe
shaking up by the bumpings over the
ties. The train was stopped and the car
righted without difficulty.
When the two foot vein was visited
the newspaper men were left standing at
the head of the plane. The commission
members seem to be very anxious that
certain of the questions that they ask
the miners be not overheard. 1t is
feared that If overheard they at times
might lead the people to believe that
the members of the commission are
biased.
Explained by Mr.. Watkins.
After the commission had returned
from the thin veins they were taken to
a gangway where there was average
mining. BY this time the plan of the in
quiry had become plain. Most of the
talking and explaining was done by Mr..
Watkins.
Whenever he reached point that was
apt to be disputed he appealed to either
Superintendent May. OF the Erie, OF
fax1 af-
tiers to dispute, however. AS rule the
explanations were lucid and impartial.
Bishop Spalding kept up running fire
OF questions. He proved to be very keen
ana persistent, and the other members
OF the commission appeared to be con-
tent that he should be the leader in this
respect. Every man that was passed in
the gangways or met with In tho cham
bers was energeticaliy questioned by the
bishop.
Once they passed a small Lithuanian
boy who, after stating that he was four
teen years old and got 60 cents day,
advised the bishop that he was engaged
At "nipping."
''Nipping?" asked the puzzled ecclesi-
astic. What is that?"
The boy explained that he was tending
Q door by which the air currents were
controlled.
Mr. Parker Displays knowledge.
Mr.. Parker also began to take a hand
In the matter OF asking questions. He is
q mining engineer. and his knowledge of
the technical features of coal production
astonished the guides that Mr.. Nichols
had provided.
The party saw men blasting coal and
loacing 1t upon the cars: they had ex-
plai. ed TO them falls, the clearing up of
-chs mbers. the extra pay allowed for the
work, and the reasons why 1t is some
times necessary for the companies to
pay extra for the removal OF rock in
chambers.
The party remained in the depths of
the mine for two hours and five minutes
Little time was lost in inspecting the
powerhouse OF the breaker. The party
then boarded the special train and were
taken 70 the Coal Brook breaker Of the