The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-31
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Sdn tranclScO, OctODer 3O.-Ine entire coffee zone of Guatemala has been de- stroyed by the flames and smoke from the volcano of Santa Maria. Eruptions threatened the destruction of every liv- ing thing within reach of the fumes and fire that pours from the burning noun tain, according to a cablegram to Castle Bros, importers of this city, received from their coffee plantations in Guate- mala. Only meagre details are given.
 Last Monday" said Louis Hirsch, of Castle Bros, q wired to our representa- tives there asking for news of the erup- tion of Santa Maria, and last night re- eeived in reply this cabIegram:
 Tt Is true; enormous losses; probable ~-~-s-<~%>~->e~>-~->- working In 1t. From there they returned to the main gangway and inspected an average urn, that is, an urn about six or eight feet thick. In going to some of the breasts" the commissioners had to almost crawl This was a particularly irksome matter for Judge Gray, who is the tallest man in the commission.
 On the return journey to, the foot of the shaft Bishop Spalding came across Lithuanian boy who was employed as a door tender His face was black from coal dirt, but in the dim light of the lamp on his cap, the bishop noticed his handsome features He asked the boy many questions as to his age, the char acter of his work and the wages he re- ceived. The other commissioners also piled the boy with questions. Near the shaft on the return journey the car in which Judge Gray. General Wilson and Messrs. Clark and Parker were seated, it4vr fT-oo tIar os,t were slightly shaken up. Miners quick ly placed the car on the track again and started them off with a hearty good bye. The party reached the surface after being under ground for two hours and ten minutes A hurried inspection was made of the outside buildings of the colliery and then the commissioners were driven in carriages to their special train. Light lunch was had on the observation car, after which the commissioners held 8 brief executive session at which they discussed matters relating purely to the further movements of the arbitrators. The exact nature of the question dis cussed was not made public. but Colonel Wright, the spokesman of the party, said it was of no public interest.
 On the Breakers.
 The arbitartors had an interesting time at the Coal Brook breaker at Carbondale. They went to the top of the great black building, and inspected all the machinery down to the ground. They were much interested in the men and boys who are employed in picking slate and honey from the coal From the breaker, the now tired commissioners, were escorted to the chute where the coal, fresh out of the mine is sent to the breaker by means of "conveyer," an endless chain ar engagement of scrappers
 It is here where one of the principal bones of contention between the employees and employers is found The miners maintain they are often unjustly docked by the docking bosses for the amount of slate boney or other refuse found in the coal The commissioners watched the work of the boss closely and saw him dock several miners because in his tudg- ment, there was too much foreign mat ter in the car of coal A few feet away is the place where the cars of coal are weighed. After the seven arbitrators had watched the weighing of coal for while, MT. Clark inquired how many pounds constituted ton at this colliery. Super intendent Bryden of the Ontario and Western, thought it was about 2SO0 pounds, but District President Nickols said it was little over 3100 pounds. The two began to discuss this, each maintain- ing he was right. MT. Nickols said that granting 2S00 was correct, these figures are too high. He said when the com panies figured 2s00 pounds to constitute a ton so as to get out of it two thous and pounds of pure coal the operators did not sell pea coal in the market. Now they have a market for pea coal and about three other sizes below it, and the miners ton of 2S00 pounds has not been decreased. Judge Gray was an in- terested listener to the discussion. He stood by with his hands deep in his over coat pockets and never uttered word. It was quite evident that both MT. Nick ols and MT. Bryden tried to make good impression with the commissioner, but what impression, if any was made, could not be known.
 coIIiery Whistle Blew.
 While the discussion was on the col fiery whistle blew the signal forAqutting and then the judge broke in, Well gen. tle,nen, it is, o'clock and l guess we will have to stop work This interrup- tion broke up what might have grown into a heated discussion as to how many pounds should constitute a ton at the