The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-11-04
COMMISSION SEES
 SOME NEW THINGS
Copy of President Mitchell
 Claims Sent Out
DAY SPENT IN THE MINES
While In One Mine a Blast Causes a Rush of Air Which Extinguishes Llghts-some of the Party
 Are Frightened.

Hazleton, Pa, November 3.-The an- thraclte strike commission spent the en- tire day in the Lehigh valley region, visiting one mine and several of the mining villages. While most of the com fnissioners were looking over the terri tory, Recorder Wright was kept busy on the train attending to the feorre- spondence of the commission. Among the matters he disposed of was the sending of a copy of President Mitchell's state ment of the miners case, which was filed with the commission Sunday night, to all the coal companies involved. The statement should be in the hands of the companies tomorrow. The operators will make reply in three of four days.
 The trip of the commission through this region was an interesting one, the conditions of mining being somewhat dif- ferent from those existing in the Lack awanna and wyoming valleys The com missioners were met at Ponk Creek early in the forenoon by District President Duffy and National Board Member P. C.. Gallagher of the miners union, who rep resented the mine workers. The opera tors interests were taken care of by General Superintendent S. D. Warner of the Lehigh Valley and Wilkesbarre Coal company, which is controlled by the Gen. tral Railway of New Jersey.
 Sides couIu Not Agree.
 A conference was held at Ponk Creek between the company and miners repre- sentatives, and for some time they could not agree as to which mine the arbitra- tors should visit. After some argument the matter was compromised and the Audenred colliery of the Lehigh valley and Wilkesbarre company was selected.
 The commissions first stop of the day was at Upper Lehigh, where A. c. Leis- enring, superintendent of the Upper Le- high Coal company, took the commission CTS for drive through the town. While in this place the arbitrators visited one or the homes of the miners, the first they have been in, since they have been tour ing the regions. Sifton was the next place visited and there a crowd gathered about the commission as Superintendent Smith of Coxe Bros. company whose mines are located there, explained the trouble be- tween the company and its men. All the miners employed at these mines are still on strike, because the company ln- sists upon them returning to work as individuals and not in a body.
 Jeddo John Markle, the independent q tor. joined the party and escorted the commissioners to the mining village of Oakdale, near Jeddo. MT. Markle showed them the club house which he maintains there for the benefit of the men. On the run into Hazleton, where the breaker of No. 40 shaft was inspect ed. Messrs Markle, Duffy and Gallagher had a spirited discussion over the differ ences existing at the Markle mines None of the men at the Markle colliery has returned to work for the same req son as those which are keeping the men ont of the Coxe mines. MT. Markle told them he was running the Markle compa- ny and would maintain discipline.
 Saw New Pictures.
 Luncheon was served at the Central hotel here and the entire afternoon was snent in the Auoenreid mine. The com ,,,issioners were lowered into the work ings $50 feet below, through llOO-foot slope. One of the physical features thev saw was a vein of coal with very steep pitch which was difficult to mine While they were inspecting this blast was ..red in a nearby chamber and the lights carried by those who remained Tn the gangways below were extngulsneo by the rush Of air some oA the Pai V were timid for a moment, wondering what had happened, but they were quick lv assured that there was no danger
 After they came to the surface, the arbitrators visited stripping" which is a place where the coal lies so near the surface that the earth can be taken off with steam shovel, exposing the coal and thus making its mining an easy mat ter.
 The commissioners leave for Shamokin tomorrow morning.