The daily Republican., 1902-11-21
MINERS ARE
SHORT LIVED.
Physicians So Testify Before
Arbitration Board at
Scranton. ;.

SCRANTON, Pa, Nov. 21.-The eco-
nomic and sociological features of tho
anthracite coal industry and the effect
employment in and about the mines
has upon the health Of the mine work.
ers were the principal subjects brought
before the arbitration commission yes
terday by the attorneys Of each side to
the controversy. While there was an
entire absence of oratory and brilliant
examination, which marked the pro-
ceedings during the last four days, the
cross examination nevertheless closely
held the attention of the commission
ers, and they gained much information
on the several features touched upon
by witnesses.
The afternoon session was particu.
larly interesting because it brought out
much expert testimony on the question
of the health of the mine workers.
Three physicians who have practiced
in Scranton or Wilkesbarre took the
stand for the miners and In substance
testified that the occupation Of a mine
worker was Every unhealthy and
shortened his life. One physician, DR..
Frank p. Lonnahan of Wilkesbarre.
who SAYS he has had long experience
among mine workers, testified thaC
fully 80 per cent of the men who work
In the mines are anRmic. Their health
Is Impoverished, and their general con-
dition is below par, thus decreasing
their earning powers. The principal ills
suffered by the miners, the physicians
said, were the miners asthma, rheu-
matism, lumbago and sclatica. The
miners asthma comes from coal dust.
powder smoke and vitlated air. DR.. John
O'Malley Of Scranton said that at post
mortcms he had seen miners lungs Us
black as anthracite itself, and DIR.
Lennahan testified he had personal
knowledge of man coughing up coal
dust nine years after he left the mines.
He said he had information that man
had coughed up coal dust fifteen years
after he had left the mines. 1t was
also stated that 80 per cent Of miners
who reach the age Of fifty years are
afflicted with some form of rheuma-
tism.
The cross examination OF the Rev.
DR.. Peter Roberts, d. d., of Mahanoy,
City, Pa, who has studied the anthra.
cite coal industry and written a book
on the subject. ended, and he left the,
witness stand shortly after the noon
recess. He began bis testimony Wedncs.
day. Coplous extracts from his book
were read and placed on record. Ex.
Congressman Simon 2. Wolverton.
counsel for the Reading company, read
much Of the matter pertaining to vio-,
lence In the 1900 strike and also read
articles written by Dr.. Roberts during
The progress Of the late contest in
which he described In strong language
the acts Of violence, intimidation and
boycottlng committed during that sus-'
pension HIS articles spoke Of some Of
these acts as brutal outrages,' ana he
also branded the unions action In CALI,
ing out the steam men in June as fool
hardy" In explaining his articles Dro
Roberts said that he did not wish ta
infer that the organization was respOn!
sible for all the la awessness committed
Tho doctor said that newspaper ac-;
counts exaggerated the amount of law,
lessness in the coal regions, but Mr.
Wolvcrton's reading Of DR.. Roberts dc.
scriptlon Of serious acts Of violence and
boycotting afforded much amusement
for the attorneys for the coal compa-
pta-