Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1902-11-07
ARBITRAToRs BG0,N WORK.
INSPECT coLLrERfrs ~ HARD coal.
bfeIEitTs.



10y Preside Ut Roosevelt 10 adjust Tn.
differences existing brtween the an
thracite mine.worlsers and their en-
pioyers made tour Friday Of the ex-
treme upper coai fields ana saw every
step taken IN The produetion Of coal
from the time IL h blasted from the
ground. hundred, of feet below the
surface. up to The point where il Is
Aent 10 market ready for the use OF the
consumer.
The srbitrators had an Interesting
day, and returned To their hotel at G:3O
O'Clock. grimy from coal dust and
Tired. after eight busy hours Of obser-
walton Aad investigation. The trip
was a novelty to most OF those In the
commissioners party. some OF whom
never bad be~n In the hard coal regions.
The commissioners displayed the great
est interest In every feature of coal
mining and went about their work In
a manner that was pleasing to behold.
The mining superintendent ace m-
panied the commissioners
many dlseomforts, make their way
through wet places in the mines, al
most crawl along some Of the gang
ways in the workings and pass through
clouds Of coal dust in the breakers.
Notwithstanding this. their eagerness
for Information was not diminished,
and they expect to put in another hard
days work In that vicinity.
All the commissioners were good
listeners, but poor takers when il
came to getting an expression from
any OF them on any feature of the
mining business From their ac,ions,
IL is certain that they have agreed not
10 say what they think Of the questions
that will come before them. Several
persons approached one or another OF
the commissioners during the day
merely for the purpose sf having him
say what he thought OF something he
saw, and In each case the inquirer was
rebuffed.
The arbitrators had an interesting
time Mt the Coal Brook breaker at
carbondale. They went to the top of
the great black building and inspected
all OF the machinery down to the
ground. They were much interested
n the men and boys who nre employed
n picking slate and honey from the
'oal. From the breaker the commits
'ioners were escorted To the chute,
where the coal fresh out OF the mine is
ent 10 the breaker by means OF a con
eyor, an endless chain arrangement
Il scrapers.
IL is here that one OF the prime pal
zones of contention between the en-
'loyers and employees is found The
miners maintain they are often unjust ,
y locked by the docking bosses for the {
mount OF slate, honey or other refuse !
pund In the coal The commission !
RS watched the work of the boss I
losely, and saw him dock several
liners because in his judgment there :
las too much Of the foreign matter in
ne car Of coal. few feet away is the Ii
lace where the cars OF coul are I
eighed
After the seven commissioners had
atched the weighing OF coal for
while, Mr.. Clark inquired how many
FUNDS constituted ton at this col
rry superintendent Dryden thought .
was $500 pounds, but District Presi- !,
M Nichols said it was little over :
90 pounds
The tour OF inspection will be con-
nned until the commission is thor %
lghiy familiar with the conditions .
'der which the miners and companies Il
DIRK aud can form their own ideas OF "
q justice OF the miners contentious. +