The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-31
Bishop SpaIding Seemed Paf- ticuIaTy Interested and
 Asked Many Questions
MEMBERS OF COMMISSION
 HAVE FUN DURING TRIP
Each of Them Provided With Rubber Boots and a Miners Outfit and the Spectacle Some of Them Pre-
 sented Vas comical.

Scranton. Pa, october 30.-The seven commissioners appointed by President Roosevelt to adjust the differences exist ing between the anthracite mine workers and their employers, today made tour of the extreme upper coal field and saw every step taken in the production or coal from the time it is blasted from the ground, up to the point where 1t is sent to the market ready for the use of the consumer.
 The arbitrators had an interesting day and returned to their hotel tonight grimy from coal dust and tired after eight busy hours of observation and inc vestigation. The trip was quite novel; ty to most of those in the party. The commissioners displayed the greatest ln- terest in every feature of coal mining. The seven arbitrators had to endure many discomforts, make their waJ through wet places in tho mines. almost crawl along some of tee gangways in the workings and pass through clouds or coal dust in the breakers. Notwthstand- ing this, their eagerness for information was not diminished and they expect to put in another hard days work romor- row, in this vicinity.
 Bishop Spalding asked more questions than any one of the others.
 From their actions today It is certain that the commissioners have agreed not to say what they think of the questien that will come before them. Several per- sons approached one or another of tho commissioners during the day merely for the purpose of having him say what he thought of some things he saw. and in each case the inquirer was rebuffed.
 The Days Tour.
 Today's tour consisted of an inspection of No. mine of the Hillside Coal and Iron company, operated by the Ere company at West City, and the Carbon- dale coal breaker of the Delaware and Hudson company On the run up the Iackawanna valley, the commissioners viewed with interest the several mining towns situated along the Delaware and Hudson railroad.
 The start was made from this city at 10 o'clock today. In the party were the seven commissioners, Recorders Mosely
  companying them were General Superin- tendent R. A. Phillips of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western company; General Superintendent E. p. Rose of the Delaware and Hudson; General Man ager w. A. May of the Erie; General Superintendent J. R. Bryden of the New York, Ontario and western and General Manager B. Thorne of the Temple Iron company. The mine workers were repre- q |. r-t. n foha lins, the Rev. Peter Roberts of Mahoney City and James Marrick of New York, the latter an expert. Besides these there were in the party about a dozen newspa- per correspondents A special train or two Pullman cars and a day coach, which was chartered at the expense of the com missioners carried the party.
 The rear car was used for observa- ton purposes by the commissioners, and they spent all their time in it. In the car was a large map showing the coax beds from Scranton up to the northern edge of the field at Forest City. The com missioners studied it carefully and It's many features were explained to them by Commissioner Watkins, who is an ex- pert in coal mining, and who was form erly an independent coal operator.
 No Demonstration.
 When the party arrived at Forest City a crowd of persons, among whom there were some mine workers, were also gath cred. There was no demonstration of any kind. A short drive was taken through the town to give the commissioners an opportunity to view the homes of the mine workers. and then the entire party was bundled into three small cars. What is known in the language of the miner as a 'lolxio." which Is small locomotive 1,.ax Ia fo hp mil distant down the valley. Here the com missioners had little fun with one an- other. As the mine was wet and dirty, the company officials provided rubber overshoes, overals, jumpers and miners caps for the entire party. Judge Gray and Bishop Spalding were the first to don the uniform of the miner and good-natured- ly took the remarks thrust at them by their colleagues as to whether or not party had been rigged out and provided with miners lamps, which they either carried in their hands or fastened to their caps, the descent of the 160-foot shaft was made. At the foot, or bottom of the shaft the president and another member of the Forest local union of the miners organization, who are employed in the mine. Joined in the party. The hospital at that point was inspected and tneH tnc cD1lfIllSSlODtTS BOt iito q U dib of six mine cars and were hauled about a mile and a half under ground In direction. Here they saw the miners fire a blast.
 Miner Killed.
 A thin vein runs into the Clifford mine adjoining the No. g. In the Clifford, few hours before the commissioners ar- rived. a Hungarian was killed almost instantly by the falling of portion of the roof of the mine. He was doubled up and his lamp, failing to go out, set fire to his clothes almost roasting him alive The newspaper correspondents were casually informed of this fatal &C., cident before the commissioners went be- low, but the arbitrators were not in- formed of the accident. The vein was explained to the commissioners, who asked many questions of the miners