The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-10-31
ARBITRATORS
BELOW GROUND
Seven Commissioners Commence
Work of inspection.
A GOOD MINE WAS SELECTED
TODAY THEY WILL BE TAKEN
INTO THE BEST PLACES.

y commissioners appointed by Pres
ident Roosevelt 10 adjust the diff
ferences existing between the anthra-
cite mine workers and their employers
made tour today of the extreme up
per coal fields and saw every step taken
in the production of coal from the time
it 5 blasted from the ground. hundreds
of feet below the surface. up TO the
point where il is sent 10 market ready
for the use of the consumer.
The arbitratOrs had an interesting
day and returned to their hotel at $3.50
o'clock tonight, grimy from coal dust
and tired after eight busy hours of
observation and investigation. The
trip was a novelty to most Of those in
the commissioners party, some OF
whom never had been in the hard coal
regions. The commissioners displayed
the greatest interest in every feature
of coal mining. and went about their
work in manner that was pleasing
to behold. The mine superintendent
accompanied the commissioners.
Many Discomforts.
The seven arbitrators had to endure
many discomforts, make their way
through wet places in the mines, almost
crawl along some OF the gangways in
the workings and pass through clouds
of coal dust in the breakers. Notwith-
standing this. their eagerness for in
formation was not diminisheo and
they expect to put In another hard
days work tomorrow in this vicinity.
II would be unfair TO say that one
commissioner displayed more interest
than another, but ii can be truly said
that Bishop Spalding asked more ques-
lions than any one of the others. He
was usually in the center of a group
of commissioners and asked many
questions of those who are employed
in and about the mines. All the COM
missiOnerS were good listeners, but
poor takers when il came down TO
getting an expression from them on
any feature of the mining business.
From their actions today il is certain
they have agreed not to say what they
think of the questions that will come
before them. Several persons APP
preached one or another OF the COM
missioners during the day merely for
the purpose of having him say what
he thought of something he saw, and
in each case the inquirer was rebuffed.
Many Strange Sights.
Today's tour consisted of an inspec-
ton OF No. ? mine of the Hillside Coal
company. operated by the Erie com
pany, and the coal breaker of the Del
aware & Hudson company. The former
is located at Forest City twenty-five
miles north oSthis city, and the break
err at Carbonate, four miles south of
Forest City. On the run up the Lacka-
wanna valley the commissioners
1. hi.
situated along the Delaware & Hudson
railroad.
The start was made from this city at
10 o'clock in the morning. In the par
ty were the seven commissioners. Re
cOrders MOseley and NELL and four
stenographers. Accompanying them
were General Superintendent r. A.
Philips of the Delaware, Lackawanna
a Western company; General Super
intendent +. z. Rose of the Delaware
& Hudson; Manager w. A. May Of the
Erie; General Superintendent J. r.
Dryden of the New York, Ontario e.
Western. and General Manager 3.
ThOrne of the Temple Iron company.
The officials represented the companies.
The mine workers We're represented by
Thomas d. Nichols, president Of this
district of the United Mine Workers of
America; Henry Collins. national or
ganizer for this district: Rev. Peter
Roberts of MahOnay City and James
Warwick of New York, the latter an
expert. Besides these there was in the
party about a dozen newspaper corre-
spondents. A special train of two Pull
man cars and day coach. chartered
at the expense of the commissioners,
carried the party.
Studied the Map.
The rear car was used for observa-
ton purposes by the commissioners,
and they spent all their time in it., both
going and coming. In the car was a
large map showing the coal beds from
Scranton up 10 the northern edge Of the
field at Forest City. The commission
ers studied it carefully. and its many
features were explained TO them by
Commissioner Watkins. who is an ex-
pert in coal mining, and who was for
merly an independent coal operator.
The arbitratOrs also carefully noted
the many mining villages passed by
the train. At each of the stations a
small group Of persons was gathered
who curiously watched the special train
run slowly by. When the party ar
rived at Forest City a crowd of per-
sons. among whom there were some
mine workers, were gathered.
There was no demonstration OF any
kind, the workers standing silently up,
watching the men who had the differ
ences existing between them and the
operators on their hands. 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