Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-11-06
EXAMINED The MINES
The Arbitration Commissioners Put
IN an Interesting Day.
ENTIRE PARTY DOIIED oVERALLS.
Thsy saw Every Step Taken n the Pro
dnctien OF Coal from the Time IL u
Blasted to the Point Where Il Il
Ready for Market

ences existing between the anthra-
cite mine workers and their employ
ers yesterday made a tour Of the ex-
upper coal fields and 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 1t is
sent to market ready for the use Of
the consumer. The arbitrator had
an interesting day and returned to
their hotel at $3.50 o'clock at night
from coal dust and tired after
eight busy hours Of observation and
investigation. The trip was quite a
novelty to most Of those in the COM
m~issioners' party, some Of whom
never had been in the hard coal re-
The commissioners displayed
the greatest interest in every feature
Of coal mining and went about their
work in q manner that was pleasing
to behold. The mining superintends
ents accompanied the commissioners.
The seven arbitrators had to endure
many discomforts, make their way
through wet places in the mines, al
most crawl along some Of the gang
ways in the workings and pass
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 to-day 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 one Of the others.
He was usually in the center of a
group of commissioners and asked
many questions Of those who are
employed in and about the mines.
All the commissioners were good lis
teners, but poor takers when it came
down to getting an expression from
them on any feature of the mining
business. Several persons ap-
preached one or another Of the COM
missioners during the day merely for
the purpose Of having him say what
he thought Of some things he saw
and in each case the inquirer was
rebuffed.
Yesterdays tour consisted of an
inspection of No. 2 mine OF the Hill.
side Coal and Iron company, operated
by the Erie company, and the coal
breaker Of the Delaware & Hudson
company. The former is located at
Forest City, % miles north OF this
city, and the breaker at Carbonate,
four miles south of Forest City. On
the IL up the Lackawanna valley the
commissioners viewed with interest
the mining towns situated along the
Delaware & Hudson railroad.
When the party arrived at Forest
City a crowd of persons, among
whom there were some mine work
ers, were gathered. There was nc
demonstration of any kind, the work
ers standing silently by, watching th'
men who had the differences existing
between them and the operators II
their hands. A short drive was takeI
through the town to give the com
missioners an opportunity to view
the homes of the mine workers ant
then the entire party was bundled
into three small cars. What is know
in the language of the miner as
"lokio," which is a small locomotive
drew the cars to the No. 2 shaft,
mile distant down the valley. Her
the commissioners had a little full
with one another. As the mine wa
wet and dirty, the company Official
provided rubber overshoes, overalls
jumpers and miners caps for the en-
tire party. Judge Gray and Blshol
Spalding were the first to don tn
uniform Of the miner and good
naturally took the remarks thrus
at them by their colleagues as t
whether or not they belonged to tn
union. After the party had bee
rugged out and provided with mir
ers' lamps, which they either cal
ried in their hands or fastened t
their caps, the descent of the l6(
foot shaft was made. At the foo
or bottom of the shaft the p%residen
and another member Of the Fores
CITY local union Of the miners OF
ganization, who r employed in tn
mine, Joined the party. The hospitf
at that point was inspected and the
the commissioners got into a train
six mine cars and were hauled abou
a mile and a half under ground in
southwesterly direction. Accomp'
MED by Superintendent May, Pres
dent Nichols and n or two Other
the commissioners went down
plain to what is known as a thi
vein Of coal, where they saw minei
fire a blast. The vein was explaine
to the commissioners, who aske
many questions of the miners worl
ing ii,