Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-04
MAKES UP A STRONG CASE
President Mitchell Files Statistics with
Recorder Of Commission.
TOUR OF INVESTIGATION CONTINUED
ArbitratOrs Arrive In LehiRh valley
and VIII Examine Conditions in
that section of the AnthrR-
cite Coal Region.

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over the territory. Recorder Wright was
kept busy on the train attending to the
correspondence of the commission. Among
the matters he disposed Of was the send
ing to all the coal companies involved
Of a copy of President Mitchell's state
ment of the miners case, which was filed
with the commission on Sunday night be-
fore its departure for Scranton.
Explains Continued strike.
The commissioner first stop was at Upper
Lehigh, where A. G. Leisenring, superin-
tendent Of the Upper Lehigh Coal COM
pany. took them for a drive through the
town. While there the arbitrators visited
one Of the homes Of the. miners. the first
they have been in since they have been
touring the region. Drifton was the next
place visited. and there a crowd gathered
as the superintendent Of Coke Bros. COM
pany, explained the trouble between the
company and its men. All the miners m
ployed at these mines are still on strike
because the company, insists upon them re-
turning to work as individuals and not In
a body.
At Jeddo, John Markle, the Independent
operator. Joined the party and escorted
the commissioners to the mining village Of
oakdale. near Jeddo. Mr.. Markle showed
them the clubhouse, which he maintains
there for the benefit Of the men. On the
run into Hazleton, where the breaker of
No. 40 shaft was inspected, Messrs. Markle.
Duffy and Gallagher had a spirited discus
sion over the differences existing at the
Markle mines. None of the men at the
Markle colliery have returned to work for
the same reason as those which are keeping
the men out Of the Coke mines. Mr.. Markle
told them he was running the Markle COM
pany and would maintain discipline.
The entire afternoon was spent in the Au-
denreid mine. The commissioners were
lowered into the workings $50 feet below
through an 1,100-foot slope. One of the new
physical features they saw was a vein Of
coal with a very steep pitch which was diff
ficult to mine. While they were inspecting
this a blast was fired in a nearby chamber
and the lights carried by those who re-
manned in the gangway below were ex-
tinguished by the rush of air. Some Of the
party we're timid for a moment, wondering
what had happened, but they were quickly
assured there was no danger.
After they came to the surface the arbi-
traitors visited a stripping" which is the
place where the coal lies so near the sur
face that the earth can be taken off with
a steam shovel, exposing the coal. and thus
making its mining an easy matter.
The commissioner will leave for Sha-
mokin at las tomorrow.
Oppose sliding Scale.
WILKESBARRE. Pa, Nov. 3.-Although
the various coal companies are not prepared
TO give figures, II is known that the output
In the anthracite region was larger than any
day since the collieries resumed operations
eleven days ago. ~
Mr.. Mitchelrs statement will probably be
made public by the commission tomorrow.
The statement practically reiterates the de-
mands made at the Shamokin convention
and does not favor the sliding scale advo-
Gated by President Baer.
The general opinion among the miners is
that the readoption of the sliding scale
would be a step backward and instead OF
the miners gaining anything by their strike
they would be the losers.