The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1902-10-31
.ARB|TRA1ORS VISIT MINE
Strike Commission 1nspects In
side and Outside Workings.
BISHOP ASKS MANY QUESTIONS.
Commissioners Spend Busy Day Far
Down in the Earth-Fourth and
Fifth Regiments Break Camp and
Return to Their Homes.

Scranton, Pa, Oct. 21.--The seven
commissioners appointed by President
Roosevelt to adjust the differences ex-
listing between the anthracite mine
workers and their employers, made
tour of the extreme upper coal field,
and saw every step taken in the pro-
duction of coal from the time it is
blasted from the ground, hundreds OF
feet below the surface, up to the point
where it is sent to market ready for
the use of the consumer.
The arbitrators had an interesting
day and returned to their hotel grimy
from coal dust and tired after eight
busy hours of observation and investi-
cation. The trip was quite novelty
to most of those in the commissioners
party, some of whom never having
been in the hard coal regions. The
commissioners displayed the greatest
interest in every feature of coal min
ing and went about their work in a
manner that was pleasing to both the
mining superintendents and the rep
resentatives of the mine workers who
accompanied the presidents commits
sioners. The seven arbitrators had to
endure many discomforts, making
their way through wet places in the
mines almost crawling along some Of
the gangways in the workings and
passing 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 this
vicinity.
1t would be unfair TO say that one
commissioner displayed more interest
than another, but it can be truly said
that Bishop Spalding asked more
questions than any cae Of the others.
He was usually in the center OF a
group OF commissioners and asked
many questions Of those who are en-
ployed in and about the mines. All
the commissioners were good listeners
but poor takers when it came down TO
getting an expression from them on
From their actions it is certain that
they have agreed not to. say what they
think OF the questions that will come
before them.
The albitrators had an interesting
time at the Colebrook breaker at Car
bondale They were much interested
in the men and boys who are employed
in picking slate and 'boney' from the
coal 1t is here whera one of the
principal bones of contention between
the employees and employer is found
The miners maintain they are Otter
unjustly docked by the docking bosses
for the amount of slate. honey or Other
refuse found IN the coal. The com
missioners watched the work of The
boss closely and saw him dock seyera
miners, because, in his judgment
there was too much foreign matter il
the car of coal. A few feet away i!
the place Were the cars of coal ar,
weighed After the seven arbitrator
had watched the weighing of coal TO
a WHILE Mr.. Clark inquired how man.
pounds constituted q ton at this col
liery. Superintendent Dryden though
1t was about $500 pounds, but Distric
President Nichos!s said it vas littl
over 3,160 pounds The two began t
discuss this, each maintaining he wa
right. Mr. Nichols said that grantin
that $500 was correct, these figure
are too high. He said when the con
panies fixed 2,S0o pounds to constitut
a ton so as to get out of it 1000 pound
of pure coal, the operators did no
sell pea coal in the market. Now the
have market for pea coal and abou
three other sizes below it and tn
miners ton of $500 pounds has no
been decreased. Judge Gray was a
interested listener to the discussion
He stood by with his hands deep i
his overcoat pockets ard never u
tered word. 1t was quite eviden
that both Mr.. Nichols and Mr. Bry
den tried to make a good impressio
with the commissioner, but what h
thought he did not even express in hi
actions.