Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1902-11-29
THE MINERS BAD HEALT
Condition Under Ground Tends to
Shorten Their Life.
LUNGS BLACK AS COAL
Physicians VINO Practice in Anthracite Region
Give Testimony Before Arbitrator CON-


MISSION.
Scranton. Pa, Nov. 2l.-The eco
nomic and sociological features Of til
anthracite coal industry and theseffect
employment in and about the mines
has upon the health of the mine work
ers, were the principal subjects
brought before the arbitration commits
sion yesterday by the attorneys of each
side to the controversy. While there
was all entire absence of oratorv or
brilliant ss-examination which
marked the proceedings during the last
| few DAYS, the cross-examination, new
lertheless. closely held the attention of
the commissioners. and they gained
much information on the features
| touched upon by the witnesses.
The afternoon session was particu-
larry interesting, because it brought
out much expert testimony on the ques-
tion of the health of the mine work.
ers. Three physicians who have prac-
ticed in Scranton or in Wilkesbarre
took the stand for the miners and in
substance testified that the occupation
Of niue worker was very unhealth-
ful' and shortened his life One ply
stefan, DR.. Frank p Lenahan. of
long experience among mine workers,
testified that fully 80 Der cent. of the
men who work in the mines are amaze
mic. Their health is impoverished and
their general condition is below par.
thus decreasing their earning powers.
The principal i'll suffered by the
miners, the physician said. were the
miners asthma. rheumatism. lumba-
go. and sciatica. The miners asthma
comes from coal dust, powder smoke
and Initiated air.
DIR. John O'Malley. of Scranton.
said that at post mortems he had seen
miners lungs as black as anthracite
itself, and DR.. Lenahan testified he
had personal knowledge of man
coughing up coal dust nine years after
he left the mines. He said he had in
formation that number had coughed
up coal dust fifteen years after they
had left the mines. 1t was also stated
that 30 per cent. of the miners who
reach the age of fifty wears are affiict-
ed with some form of rheumatism.
The cross-examination of the Rev
DR.. Peter Roberts. d. D., of Mahonov
City. Pa. who has studied the an
thracite coal industry and written
book on the subject, ended, and
he left the witness stand shortly after
the noon recess. He began his testi-
mony Wednesday.
Copious extracts from his book were
read and placed on record. Exon
rgessman Simon p. Wolverton. counsel
for the Reading company. read much
of the matter pertaining to violence in
the 1900 strike and also read articles
written by Dr. Roberts during the
progress of the late contest, in which
he described in strong language the
acts of violence, intimidation, and
boycotting committed during that sus-
pension His articles spoke of some
OF these act as brutal outrages, and
he also branded the unions actl on in
calling out the steam men in June as
'foolhardv
In explaining his articles, DR.. Rob
erts said that he did not wish to in
fer that this organization was respon-
sible for all the lawlessness commit
cd. The 1octor said yesterday that
newspaper accounts exaggerated the
amount Of lawiessness in the coal re-
gions, but Mr. Wolvertons reading of
Or. Roberts description OF serious
acts of violence and boyeotting afford
cd much amusment for the ATTORNEYS
for the coal companies
DR.. Roberts gave it as his opinion
that attempts to have non-union m en-
form a separate organization were in
stiagted by parties opposed to organ
lied labor.
In attempting to show that care
lessnesss Of the miners contributes
materially to the danger Of his occu-
patton, Chairman GRAY interposed
with the remark that magrin of
earelessness incident to human nature
must be taken into account when esti-
mating the dangerousness Of any haz-
ardous occupation
The interest in the commissioners
and their Investigation has not de-
creased. Each day hundreds of men
line the streets and watch the arbitra-
tors walk from the hotel to the court
room. Most Of them are idle mine
workers, and they give the commits
sioners a somewhat critical look as
they pass by. Each session of the COM
mission finds the hearing room damned