Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-01
AN OTHER BUSY DAY
COAL STRIKE COMMISSION GOES
TO SOUTH WILKEsBARRE.
Members Inspect Workings of Pros
pect Mine-No Date Yet Set
for Hearings.

W1LKESBARRE, Pa, November 1.-The
members of the coal strike commission ar
rived here from Scranton at $50 o'clock
this morning on the Delaware and Hudson
railroad, the run being made along the east
banks of the Lackawanna and Susauehanna
rivers.
The morning was very foggy, which shut
out from view the mining towns in the
Lackawanna and Wyoming valleys. When
the special train arrived here it was switch
ed to the tracks of the Lehigh Valley rail-
road and taken to North Wilkesbarre.
Went Through Prospect Mine.
There the commissioners were escorted
into the Dorrance mine of the Lehigh Val
ley company, where the morning was spent
going through the workings This after
noon the party will be taken on a special
trolley car to the mining towns of Ashley
and Sugar Notch for a view Of the mine
workers houses.
On their return to Wiikesbarre the COM
missioners will again board their train and
go to Plymouth, the west bank Of the
Susquehanna river, one of the largest min
ing towns in LuZerne county. After tour
of that place they will return to Scranton,
using the tracks of the Delaware, Lacka-
wanna and Western railroad along the west
banks OF the two rivers.
No Time Set for Hearings.
Chairman Gray of the commission said
today that no time has been fixed for the
starting of the hearings nor has any place
been definitely selected for holding them.
Hearings will probably be held in New
York and Philadelphia, but the published
report that Chairman Gray has arranged
places of meeting is incorrect.
1t is not known to the commission when
President Mitchell of the United Mine
Workers will present his statement. No
hearing will be held to receive 1t. The
statement will be handed to the recorder of
the commission in about the same manner
as legal paper is filed with the clerk of
q court.
Few Miners at Work.
After the party had reached the Prospect
shaft of the Lehigh Valley Coal Company
1t was decided to go down the Dorrance, be-
cause more veins of coal could be seen.
This being All Saints day. a church hol-
day, there were fewer miners at work than
usual. The commissioners were lowered
into the pit, which is about $50 feet below
the surface, at 1O:45 oclock.
The party was accompanied by General
Superintendent 8. D. Warmer Of the Lee
high Valley company. District superin-
company, General Superintendent w. 7.
Richards of the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre
company, District President Nichols and
National Board Member John Fallon of the
miners union.
Carried Safety Lamps.
The Dorrance is very gaseous one,
and on this account each member OF the
party was compelled to carry safety lamp.
Going through the workings a fire boss,
whose duty it Is to see whether there Is any
accumulation of gas anywhere, preceded
the party.
A mule driver named Ralph Evans met his
death In the Dorrance last night by failing
into "sump. !" =, This is a pool into which
the hot steam fEom exhaust pipes empties.
Withdrawal Of Troops.
TAMAQUA, Pa, November brig. Gen.
Schall, in command Of the troops now in
the anthracite region, today issued an order
relieving the 18th Regiment. the I'd City
Troop and the Governors Troop from duty.
The 1st City Troop, the Sheridan Troop, the
lst Regiment, 18th Regiment and battal-
ion of the 9Th Regiment will be kept in the
field In anticipation Of possible outbreak
in the lower Luzerne region and the Pan
ther Creek valley, where much dissatisfac-
tion Is being manifested among the mine
employees.