The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-10-31
ARBITRATORS down
N THE COAL MINES
Commissioners Studying Condi.
tons in Mining Region.
THOROUGHLY EXPLORE MINE
vncy Are Inspecting The Homes Of the
Miners as Wel--A Breaker is Wis,
i,cd-Thc Whole Business is
Explained-Showl Interest.

tlsy Associated Press. !

tBy Associated Press
SCRANTON. PA oeto1er 35-1hc sew
en- commissioners appointed by President
!. 1sooscyeit 10 ADJUST the differences exist
4 Ing between the anthracite mine workers
q aiic taeir employers To-Day made IA tom
of the extreme upper coal field. and saw
Y every step taken in the production OF
J coal from lifetime it is blasted fiom the
ground. hundreds of feet below the sur
lace up 10 the point where il assent TO
market ready for the use of the consumer.
me arbitrator had an Interesting day,
afii returned to their hotel at Go o CLOCK
tonight, gi,iinyt from, coal dust ard tired
after eight hours of observation and IN
NesuGation. The trip was quite n novelty
to most of those in the commissioners
party, some of whom had never been IN
The hard coal regions. he commissions
cr-S displayed the greatest interest III
every feature OF coal mining. The seven
arbitIators had TO endure many nascoln-
4 forts, make their way through wet places
In the mines. almost crawl along some OF
the ganSways in The workings ana pass
through cloudsSof coal dust III the break
ers. Notwithstanding this. thelr eager
ness for information was not diminished,
and they expect to put in another hard
days work Tomorrow in this vicinity
ii would be unfair TO say that one COM
missioner displayed more interest than an
other. but 1T can be truly said that Bishop
Spalding asked more questions than any
!. one of the others. H. vas usually in the
center of a group of commissioners and
asked many questions of those VINO are
employed in and about the mines.
THE DAYS WORK.
To-dav's tour consisted Of an inspection
of No. mine of The Hillside Coal and
Iron Company, operated by the Erie Com
1,anv, and the Coalbrook breaker, Of the
Delaware and Hudson Company. The
former is located at Forest City, twenty.
two miles north of this city. and the
breaker at Carbonate. four miles south
of Forest City. on the run up the Lack
awanna Valley the commissioners viewed
with interest the several mining towns
situated along the Delaware and Hudson
Railroad.
When the party arrived at Forest City
crowd of persons among whom there
were some mine workers We're also gain :
ercd There was no demonstration OIL any
kind. the workers standing silently by and
watching the men who had the differences
eNisting between them and the operators
In their hands. A short drive WAS tak.-n
through the town to give the commission
crs an opportunity to view the homes Of
si.., mine workers and then the entire
party descended into No. 2 mine As the
1:.iIte was wet and dirty. the company Of
fici;slS provided rubber oNershoes, over
alls jumpers and miners caps: Judge
Gray and Bishop Spalding We're the first
to don the uniforms. and good -na tIrediE
toor the remarks thrust tsthem by their
colleagues as to whether or not they be-
lonsed to the union.
FATAL ACCIDENT
In the Clifford. adjoining No. mine.
Few hours before the commissioners arrived
1 Hungarian was killed almost instantly by
tie falling of a portion of the roof OF
the mine He was doubled up. and mis-
lamp failing to go out, set ire 10 MS
clothes almost roasting him alive. The
prbitrators were not informed OF the &c
tidnrt.
On tho return tourney to the foot of the
Lithuanian boy. who was employed as
doc, tender His face was black from
eoal dirt but in the dim light OF the lamp
pm his cap the Bishop noticed his hand
tome features. He asked the boy many
questions as to his age. The character OF
his work and tn. wages he received.
Mean. the shaft on the return journey
ric car in which Judge Gray General
Wilson and Messrs. Clark and Parker
Sere seated jumped the track and the
eouf occupants We're slightly shaken liz
Miners quickly placed the car on the
truck again and started them of With
4 hearty good -bNe. The party reached
thc surface at 2:10 o'clock, after being
Underground for two hours and ten mia-
ttes.
At a BREAKER.
The arbitrators had an interesting tine i
~ the 4Coalbronll breaker AT Carbondaie. |
Inc. w,,d 10 the ton4of he great. back |
building ard Inspected all the lnachin-
nv Down 10 the ground. The commits
t,nnsTs watched the work Of the boss
.luseiy and saw him dock several min !
,rs bncarse in his judgment, there was +
too le.,.ch foreign matter in the car of
toal A few feet away is the place !
Ahc,;a the cars of coal are weighed. 4
After the seven "a traitors had watch !
"a tile weighing of coal for a while Mr..
Clark inquired how MANY pounds con-
ttitl!lcG a ton at.this collicry. Saperin-
teIident Dryden. Of the Ontario and
Western. thoueht il was about eSh9
Sounds, hut District President Nichols 4
,aid il WAS a little over 300 pounds.
fhe two began TO discuss this. each 4
he was right. M. Nichols |
laid that granting tina; $50 was correct,
hese figures are TOO high. He said when |
he company, fixed o.Soo pounds to con-
sl'l5tc a ton. so as. 10 ;;@t az, il s'hi
,ounds OF pure coal, the operators did I
iot sell peacoal in the market Now
p,ey have market for peacoal and I
tbcut three other SECS below il. and the
nlrcrs' ion OF . 500 pounds has not been
decreased. The party after this in
ldent returned to Scranton.
President Mitchell. of the miners
onion, came supfr from Milkesharre To-
pght. lie Was accompanied by Clarence
:. barrow. of Chicago, who has been
ppointed by Mr.. Mitchell as attorney
= represent tlhe miners better" tic Ai,hi-
ration comm fssion. The two had
difference With several members of the
pmmission tonight regarding the sub
Al-. rae ~