The Birmingham age-herald., 1902-10-30
COMMISSION IN.
 THE COAL FIELD Will Begin Investigation of Mines from Scranton ENGAGE FOURTEEN ROOMS T. H. Watkins, Member of the Board, Says They VIII Not Sit to Take Testimony Until After Tour
 of the Region.
ENGAGE FOURTEEN ROOMS

Scranton. Pa, October 29.-The anthra- cite coal strike commissioners, who will make an inspection of the mines and the homes of the mine workers. arrived here tonight over the Central Railroad or New Jersey. Commissioner T. II. Wat kins, whose home is in this city, came here early in the day and arranged some of the details for the first days tour of the upper region. The commissions headquarters is at the Hotel Jeremi, where the party occupies fourteen rooms.
 Tomorrow will be spent in the region north of this city At s:15 a. m. the party will leave for Forest City, the upper edge of the hard coal fields, 22 miles from here. President Mitchell will not come to this city unless sent for. The train will travel slowly, so that the com missioners can get a good Idea of the country. At Forest City the party will be lowered into one of the Erie company's mines and 1t is said the entire morning will be spent under ground As pre- caution against accident, a superintend- ent, fire boss or a practical miner VIII accompany each member of the party through the workings.
 Lunch at carbondale.
 If the programme for the day IS not disarranged by subsequent developments lunch will be had in Carbondale, four miles south of Forest City. A coal break CT will be visited at Carbondale and then the return journey to Scranton will De made. The commissioners will stop at Oliphant, six miles north of Scranton for the purpose of visiting other collieries and to look at the homes and surround ings of the mine workers. Scranton will he reached at about o'clock In the even- ing.
 On Friday the commission will spend the day visiting collieries in and about the city of Scranton and viewing the mining suburbs. Saturday the commits sion will go to Wi1kesbarre to further prosecute their Investigation.
 MT. Watkins, in an interview today, said the commission will probably not sit to take testimony until after a tour of the region has been completed. It is pos- slble, though, that a session will take place Monday in Wikesbarre, to receive the statement to be presented by Presi- dent Mitchell, to which the operators have agreed to make answer wltnn three days. It is almost certain that no testimony will be taken in this city this week.
 To Get General View.
 ''The purpose of the commission just at present." said MT. Watkins, Ifs to get a general view of the physical conditions of anthracite mining, with the idea of giving the members of the commission 4oH xrytfh min portunity of seeing what a mine is like. how the miners work and live and how the product Is handled. With all the commissioners having general knowl- edge at least of these subjects 1t will be much easier for those who will present testimony to have their statements intel- ligently appreciated"
 Twenty-Five accountants were brought here today from New York by the Erie company. They will assist the compa- ny's clerks in this city in arranging data for presentation to the commission.