The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1902-10-31
COMMISSION AT WORK
Coal Strike Arbitrator Spend Busy
Day at the Mines.
VISIT HOMES OF WoRKMEN.
-FOUR of Inspection Made So That
Board VIII BE Able to Understand
the Expert Testimony That
VIII BE Presented.

Scranton, Pa, Oct. 80. = The real
work of the arbitration commission APP
pointed by President Roosevelt to ad-
just the differences existing between
the coal operators and their employees
began during the day. Briefly stated,
the days work consisted of general
inspection of the inside and outside
workings of coal mines and the homes
and surroundings Of the workmen. All
of the region lying north of here to
Forest City, a stretch of twenty-five
miles, was gone over. This took up
the entire day. The mining region
from here south to Wilkesbarre will
next be looked over.
The commission is making this tour
so that the members may gain better
idea of mining in order to more intelli-
gently understand the testimony that
will be given by experts on both sides
Of the controversy. No testimony will
be taken during the inspection trips.
The commission party consists of four
teen persons.
The entire party, which also includes
four general mining superintendent
and a number of newspaper CORE
spondents, left the Delaware and Hud-
son railroad station for Forest City in
a special train of Pullman cars, the
expense of which Is being borne by the
commissioners. The start was delayed
about an hour owing to the very late
,is,e,{ in, 10
city.
Mining TerminOlo Explained.
On the run up the Lackawanna val
ley the commissioners occupied the OBJ
servation car and were shown the
points of interest. In the car was a
very large map showing the veins Of
coal between Scranton and the upper
edge Of the coalfield. The commission
ers showed great interest in the map
and asked the superintendent many
questions Commissioner Watkins,
who has an expert knowledge of min
ing, having been an operator at one
time, also explained in detail many
features of coal mining. In giving
their explanations the experts often
used technical terms, such as "robbing
the pillars" in each case where a tech
meal term was used a commissioner
asking it's meaning.
The news that the presidents COM
missioners were passing on special
train spread through the upper valley.
and small groups of people gathered
at the various stations along the line
of the Delaware and Hudson railroad.
The personnel of the party is as fol
lows: Judge Gray, Colonel Wright,
Brigadier General John nj. Wilson,
Thomas H. Watkins, e. w. Parker,
Bishop Spalding and e. e. Clark, com
missioners; e. A. Moseley and Charles
P. Neil, recorders; Charles Gerry
Charles w. Morris, Frank r. Hanna
and A. G. Edwards, stenographers;
Jesse Sears, messenger; General SUI
perintendent r. A. Phillips, Delaware
Lackaw wanna and Western; e. e. Ross,
general superintendent Delaware and
Hudson; General Manager w. A. May
/ of the Erie company; Superintendent
]. r. Dryden, Ontario and Western;
General Manager s. B. Thorne, Semple
Iron company; 7. d. Nichols, district
president United Mine Workers OF
| America; Rev. Peter Roberts ano
James S. Warwick, both representing
the miners; Henry Collins, national or
ganizer United Mine Workers.