The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-11
COMMISSION
WANTS MORE
COOPERATION

Nathan McNeal, a Lehigh Valley en-
gineer from shaft No. 40 went out on
strike when the engineers were called
out and could not get back.
Earnings in 1901.
Mr.. Gowan brought it out that the
witness earned S735 in 1901; also that
shaft No. 40 started up in August, three
months before the strike ended. George
Simmonds, a pump runner had sim
liar story to tell. Mr.. Gowan contented
himself with the development of the
fact that Simmonds left his position
voluntarily, and that it was absolutely
necessary for the preservation of the
mines to put man in his place.
p. ]. Mccormick, cheeky weighman at
Olyphant colliery. No. .. OF the Della
ware and Hudson company, explained
how he kept his accounts. First of all,
he said he keeps a daily sheet, giving
the total weight of coal sent out by
each miner and the amount of dock
age. 1t is compared every day with
the company weighman's list. At the
end of the month the sheet is posted
for public inspection.
The total output of the breaker at
No . last year was 4l4,49l tons. 1t pre-
pares the coal from No. 9 shaft, Grassy
Island shaft and Grassy Island slope.
The total dockage was 1892.
There are two beams on the scale.
One is gross and the other net. One
hundred pounds on the gross beam will
register eighty eight pounds on the net
beam. The gross beam registers 3.l36
pounds when the net beam registers
$500 pounds. The report of the mine
department was presented to show that
$4,000 tons more We're prepared at this
cOlliery in 1901 than the miners We're
given credit for.
Mr.. Torrey explained that the excess
represented the smaller sizes. which by
agreement the miners do not claim
credit for. In response to questions by
Mr.. Torrey, the witness said there was
no general complaint on the score OF
dockage or tonnage. The dockage was
only about 8 per cent. he said.
The se6 Pounds Excess.
In answer to questions by Commits
sioners Gray and Watkins. the witness
admitted that the S96 pounds excess
above 2,24O pounds required from the
miners, represents the allowance made
for what We're unmarketable sizes
when the agreement was made in 1871,
ana that the dockage is a penalty for
Mr. TorreS byought out the fact that
in 1877 the miners used IA rake with
tines three inches apart and that any
thing that couldn't be raked up was
not sent out Now. however, the Wit
hess said, all coal, no matter how fine
is sent out and the most of it is mar
keted
=. j. Hogan, check weighman at the |
Eddy Creek colllery OF the Delaware |
and Hudson company at Olyphant, tes-
tilted that the total output in 1901 at |
this collrry VAS 2OS,lS5 tons, and the !
dockage 13,S00 tons. The output, ac- |
cor,lng to the report OF the bureau OF |
mines, showed an output of 2i2.2S0 tons. |
Mr.. Torrey contented himself With |
the fact that the witness is |
paid by the miners and receives $3.50 n |
day of ten hours.
The consideration of conditions at the |
collieries of G. Pardee & Co. was then |
taken up, despite a request from Mr.. |
Gowan and Mr.. Torrey that it be post |
poned until Attorney Dickson could arr
rive from Philadelphia. Judge Gray |
was sorry the commission was unable !
to accommodate Mr.. Dickson.
The first witness called by Mr.. Me- |
Carthy was from the Harwood colliery
OF &. Pardee a. Co., at HaZleton. James
Sweeney was his name. lie said he was
and had seven children. His
wages We're about $50 or $40 a month on
the average. Laborers were paid SITS
4 day. The ventilation in the HarwOod
was all right, he said. and that the
company never docks him.
About Mine Inspector
Robert Richardson, from the Har-
wood. too that he could earn about S35
a month. The witness hadn't seen a
mine inspector in a long time. When
he did see him, the mine boss accom-
panied him. Some miners, he said,
would be afraid to complain to the in
spector when the boss was present. hut
others would have no hesitancy to do
so. He Thought eight hours was long
enough to work in the mine at a shift.
lie knew Of an instance OF man being