The Aberdeen Democrat. (Aberdeen, South Dakota) 1???-1909, 1902-11-07
THE REAL WORK begun.
Inspection Of the Anthracite Mining
Regions Started by Arbi-
tration Commission.
REACH SCRANTON AND VISIT MINES.
IN Take No Testimony During the
Trip-Objcct of Present Four Is to
Become Familiar with Mining SO
a. to Better Understand Testimony
of Experts on Both Sides.

as 10 DeltcE
of Experts ON Both Sides.
Washington, Oct. 2s.-The anthra-
cite coal strike commission held its
first conference yesterday with the
parties to the controversy in the an
thracite regions.
Judge Gray, president of the com
mission, read the order Of the presa-
dent creating the commission in a
general way outlined the procedure
to be followed in the presentation OF
the issues. He stated that the COM
mission would first receive the state
m.eents or demands of the miners, who
were to be regarded for the purposes
of this case as the prosecutors. Inc
reply of the other side would then be
heard, Judge Gray said, in order that
the commission might have before it
q definite issue.
Commission at Scranton.
Scranton, Pa, Oct. 30.-The anthra-
cite coal strike commissioners arrived
here last night. The commissioners
headquarters are at the Hotel Jermyn.
where the party occupies IA rooms.
To-day will be spent in the region
north of this city. At 915 a. m. the
party will leave via the Delaware d
Hudson railroad for Forest City in
Su%squehanna county.
Inspect the Mines.
Scranton. Pa, Oct. 31.-The seven
commissioners appointed by Presl-
dent Roosevelt to adjust the differ
ences existing between the anthra-
cite mine workers and their employ
ers on Thursday made a tour of the
extreme upper coal field, n saw
every step taken in the production
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 arbi-
traitors had an interesting day, and
returned to their hotel at $3.50 O'Clock
at night grimy from coal dust and
tired after eight hours of observa-
ton and Investigation.
Maintain silence.
All the commissioners were good
listeners but poor takers when it
came down to getting an expression
from them on any feature of the
mining business. From their actions
it is certain they have agreed not to
say what they think of the question
that will come before them. Several
persons approached n Or another
of the commissioners during the day
merely for the purpose of having
him say what he thought of some
he saw, and in each cas the
inquirer was rebuffed.
Mines Inspected.
The days tour consisted of an in
spection of No. 2 mine of the Hill
side Coal and Iron company, oper-
ated by the Erie company, and the
coal breaker of the Delaware & Hud-
son company. The former is located
at Forest City, % miles north of this
and the. breaker at Carbonate,
miles south of Forest City. On
the run up the Lackawanna valley
the commissioners viewed with in
terest the several mining towns sit
uated along the Delaware & Hudson
railroad.
Will Take No Testimony.
The commission is making this tour.
SO that the members may gain a bet
ter idea of mining in order to more
intelligently understand the testi-
mony that will be given by experts
on both sides of the controversy. No
testimony will be taken during the
inspection trips. The commission
party consists Of "A persons.
Miners Wages.
Scranton, Pa, Nov. 1.-The first
important action by the anthracite
coal strike commission, which is
ar%bitrating the differences between
the miners and their employers, was
taken yesterday when it was an
nounced by Carroll D. Wright, re-
corder of the commission, that if any
award affecting the existing rate Of
wages is made it shall be effective
from November 1.
Visit Mines Near Scranton.
The commissioners spent the en-
lire day in their inspection of the
mines and the mining region about
They visited the Manville
,olliery operated jointly by the Del
aware & Hudson and the Delaware.
& Western companies in
5he forenoon, and the afternoon was
spent in riding through the region
IN a special trolley car.
Seeking New Home.