The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-24
Resumption of Work Not as
 General as Expected
SOME OF ROOFS DANGEROUS
On Account of Damage Many Collier ies Were Not Opened, and, ThIs
 Being Misunderstood, Caused
 Dissatisfaction Among Men.

Wiikesbarre, October 23-The resurnp- was not as general today as expected. Unlocked for difficulties were encounter ed in the shape of water and accumuI- ated gas, and dangerous roofs which threatened to fall and entomb the work CTS were also discovered in many of the collieries. The mine superintendents would make no changes and the mining of coal was put off until all parts of the underground workings can be made safe. This will take few days yet and in some cases 1t will take weeks. Although work was carried on in some mines which are not considered in the best of condition, no accidents were reported. In quite few of the collieries the machin- cry and everything else connected. the hoisting of coal acted badly and it was found necessary to close down after steam had been raised and the miners were ready to go to work.
 Two-Thlrds In Operation.
 From reports received from the entire anthracite region the number of mines in operation is given as little less than two. thirds of the total number, but the output of coal was less than half the normal
 As was to be expected there was more or less dissatisfaction among the old em- ployes over the re-openng of the mines. 1 Where it was decided not to resume work for few days the men took 1t that the coal companies did not want their serv- ices and many complaints reached Presf- dent Mitchells Headquarters But as the day wore on and the true situation be- | came known, there was a better feeling all around. President Mitchell expects that when all the mines get in operation there will be less complaints. Until all l the collierfes do resume there will be more or less Idle men airing their dis content.
 It looks as though the union engineers were going to have some difficulty get ting back their old places. At nearly every mine where the striking engineers made application for work today they were told that there were no vacancies
 Carpenters Also Out.
 large number of carpenters are also | out in the cold. A delegation or carpen- | ters waited on President Mitchell today | and told him of their grievances. He ad- vised them to walt few days and see if employment would not be offered them. 1 President Mitchell believes that when l general resumption takes place there will be few of the mine employees idle. The 1 firemen are being taken back Tn larger numbers than any of the steam men.
 That is because they are experienced and the men who took their places are not so capable. The only friction reported between union and non-union men was | at several collleries in the Wyoming region where the miners objected to be- ing lowered into the mines by non~union I men.
 President Mitchell was busy at head l quarters today getting the miners side | of the case in shape for presentation to 1 the arbitration board.
 Explosion In Mine. Shamokin, Pa. October 23-In reopen- 1 ing the Alaska shaft owned by the Phil adelphia and Reading Coal and Iron com pany this morning, an explosion of gas occurred as Robert Mowhe and Aaron walked into No 1 slope. They were blown about twenty feet and were badly burned about the head and face The gas extended deeper into the mines, and while rescuing party removed the two victims, another body of men began, working their way into the breasts where | five men are thought to be imprisoned. | Up to 10 o'clock the breasts had not been 1 reached.
 Watkins Sees President. l Washington, October 2s-Thomas H. | Watkins of Scranton, Penn, one of the | members of the coal strike arbitration | commission, had a conference with Pres briefly the situation in the anthracite re-