The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-10-31


Rangway was 40 near the tops OF the cars
that the party vas compelled to ride with
bowed heads The passage was made in
safety and without particular inconven-
iencs.
The plan OF the trip was to visit parts
Of the mine where three things could be
seen; a vein where there was good mining.
vein where there was average mining
and thin veins where the mining was poor
and where the danger was great and the
returns Of the miner small. To reach the
thin veins IL was necessary tn pass down a
plane and reach the workings Of the Cliff
ford mine, where there are veins OF coal
two feet in thickness. This plane was
passed before the fact was discovered
II was therefore necessary to 90 back some
distance On the return one OF the small
mine cars, that bearing Gen. Wilson ana
Judge Gray and Messrs. Clark and Parker,
left the track and the occupants were
shaken up by the buinpings over the ties
The train was stopped and the car righted
without difficulty
When the two-foot vein was visited all
the newspaper men who had gone In were
left standing AT the head OF the plane.
The commission members seem TO be very
anxious that certain Of the questions that
they ask the miners bc not overheard.
II is feared that If overheard they az times
might lead the people To believe that the
members of the commission are biasSed.
This is admitted 20 have been the reason.
After the commissioners had returned
from the thin veins they we're taken 10
gangwav where there was average mining
Bv this time the plan of the inquiry had
become plain Most of tho talking and
explaining was done by Mr. Natkin@
Whenever he reached place where there
vas likely to bn a dispute, he appealed TO
either Superintendent May or President
Nichols. There were f"w matters IN dispute,
however As rule the explanations were
lucid and impartial The members Of
the commission seemed To grasp them
readily and at times expressed their
satisfaction
Bishop Spaulding kept up a running
fire of questions He proved TO he very
keen and persistent and the other MEM
beers of the commission appeared TO be
content that he should be the leader IN
this respect. Every man that was passed
in the gangways or met III the chainb"rs
was u,liZzed theoretically 10y the Bishop
Once they passed a small Lithuanian boy
who. after saving that he was IA We ars old
and got 90 cents a day. advised the Bishop
that he was engaged at ~nipping.,
,-Nipping'' asked the puzzled bishop
What is that?"
The boy explained that he was tending
door by which the air currents We're
controlled. The bishop pinched the cheek
of the lad.
The eyes of the youngster sparkled IN
me semi tIdthfl"-~.
Mr.. Parker now began TO take hand in
the matter Of asking ques' ions. lie Is
mining engineer and his knowledge OF the
technical features Of coal production a.
tonished the guides that Mr. Nichols had
provided. The party saw men blasting
coal and loading II upon the cars. The
commissioners had explained TO them falls.
the clearing up Of Chambers, the extra pay
allowed for the same, and the reasons
why II is sometimes necessary for the com
panies to pay extra for the removal of rock
in chambers. 1t WAS mutually agreed that
the gangwav that had not yet been visited
would show conditions more favorable
TO the miners. An ascent was then made
to the surface. The party had been Ill
the depths Of the mine for two hours and
five minutes, II was after o clock and
the commissioners We're ravenously hungry.
Little time was lost in inspecting the
power house Of the breaker. The party
then boarded the special train and were
taken to the Coal Brook breaker of the
Delaware and Hudson Canal Company
within the limits Of the city Of Carbondale.
On the way there luncheon was served
In the club car. This was still being en-
joyed when the Carbondale breaker was
reached and the train was run upon a siding
to await the pleasure Of the commission.
After the luncheon the car was vacated
by all except the commission, who held a
session lasting fully half hour. The
principal topic discussed was n plan 10y
which the rule regarding the number going
into the mines would be enforced here
after. Only one newspaper man will be
taken along, there will be only two repre-
sentatives Of each side Of the controversy
present and the stenographers will be told
that their company is not wanted Ii was
also decided that tomorrow morning at
0 o'clock the commission will visit the
Manvile breaker of the delaware and
Hudson Canal Company in this city and
spend the greater part Of the day there.
They will not only visit the interior Of the
coliery. but they will make a thorough
inspection of every feature Of the mine
and breaker.
The conference ended. the commission
made a thorough inspection Of the Coal
Brook breaker. They walked 10 the top
Of the high pile. then they descended as
they had come, and afterward they went
to the weighing depart ment, where the
docking system was explained. Al this
point occurred the only argument Of the
day and the only show Of partnership,
Mr.. Nichols informing the members Of
the commission that right here was one
| OF the principal grievances of the miners
that the docking system was grievous
wrong and that the miner had 10 cut 2l0O
pounds of coal TO secure payment for a
ton Mr. Dryden contended that the dock
| ing system was an equitable one-that the
| miner was paid all that he was entitled to.
The members OF the commission turned
away with the exception Of Judge Gray.
| He listened to the argument with his face
| lighted with a smile. but he made no com
ment. Following the inspection Of this
| breaker the party boarded the train and
| we're brought TO Scranton.
| Recorder Wright announced the plans
for the morning and said that the COM
mission would hold a session during the
evening. He said that the commission
had not decided when il would begin the
| taking Of testimony nor was II sure that /,
| would be ready to proceed to Wilkes Barre
on Saturday MS had been announced. Plans
| for the future were Yet to I've decided upon
| The Hillside No, colliery, that was
inspected by the commission to-day, is
said TO be one Of the finest mines In the
region. II employs about six hundred and
twenty -ive men and has a capacity Of 800 carr
| Of a ton and a half each day.
Although the miners would not say
| whether they were pleased or not with the
| first days inquiry by the commission, /,
| IL certain that after they come home to-nigh,
| President Mitchell come from Wilkes
Barre to Scranton in a great hurry, accom-
panied by Or. Walter +. Weyl, one Of hi,
advisers, and President John Fahey OF
District No. Q. They were met by DR.
Peter Roberts and James Markwick A
little later Mitchell announced that Clar.
ence :. barrow Of Chicago. who is now
here, had been appointed attorney for the
miners, to conduct their case before the com
| mission
After Mitchell's announcement the s,rik,