Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-11-21
HEALTH OF MINERS,
THIS THE PRINCIPAL SUBJECT De-
FORE THE COAL COMMISSION.
THREE PHYSICIANS TESTIFY.
In Substance They Say That the oc-
cupation of Mine-worl<cr is
Very Unhcalthful, and Shorten.
Life-,1iners, Asthma.
THREE PHYSICIANS TESTIFY.
In Substance They Say That the Oc-

-
that employment in and about the mines
has upon the health Of the mine-workers,
We're the principal subjects brought before
the arbitration commission to-day by the
attorneys Of each side to the controversy.
| While there was an entire absence of
ora tory or the brilliant cross-examination
which marked the proceedings during the
last few days. the crosse examination, new
ertheless closely held the attention of the
commissioners. and they gained much in
formation on the features touched upon
by witnesses
The afternoon session was particularly
interesting, because it brought out much
expert testimony on the subject of the
health of the lnine-workers. Three ply
sicians, who have practiced in Scranton
! and Wilhesbarre took the stand for the
miners, and in substance said that the
occupation of a mine-worker was very
unlealthful'' and shortened life. One
physician, DR.. Frank P Lenahan, of
Wilkesbarre, who said he had had long
experience among mine-workers testified
that fully SO per cent. of the men who
work in the mines are anaemic. Their
health is impoverished, and their general
condition is below par, this decrea sing
their earning power.
ILLS OF THE MINERS.
The principal Ills suffered by the miners,
the physicians said were miners asthma,
rheumatism. lumbago, and sciatica. The
miners asthma comes from coal dust,
powder smoke, and vitiated air. DR.. John
O'Mailey, of Scranton, said that at post
mortems he had seen miners lungs as
black as anthracite itself. and DR.. Lena
han testified that he had personal knowl-
edge of an Americans coughing UP coal
dust nine years after he had left the
mines. He said he had information that
a, man had coughed UP coal dust fifteen
years after he had left the mines. 1t
was also stated that ninety per cent. of
miners who reach the age Of 50 years are
afflicted with some form Of rheumatism.
The crcss-eAamination of Rev. DR.. Peter
Roberts, D. D., of Mahanoy City. Pa,
who has studied the anthracite coal In
dustrE, and has written a book on the
subject. ended to-day, and he left the
witness-stand shortly after the noon re-
cess. He began his testimony yesterday.
Copious extracts from his book were read
and placed on record.
CRITICISM OF UNION.
Ex-Congressman Simon p. WoIverton,
counsel for the Reading Company, read
much of the matter pertaining to violence
in the 1900 strike. and also read articles
written by DR.. Roberts during the pro-
sress Of the late contest, in which he de-
scribed in strong language the acts of vio-
lence, intimidation and boycottins COM
mitted during that suspension. His ar
ticles spoke of some of these acts as "bru-
tai outrages,' and he also branded the
unions action in calling out the steam
men III June as 'foolhardy." In explain
ing his articles, DR.. Roberts said that he
did not wish to suggest that the organiza-
ton was responsible for all the laWess
ness committed. The Doctor said yester-
day that newspaper accounts had exag-
gerated the amount of iawlessn3ss in the
coal regions, but Mr.. Woverton's reading
of Dr.. Roberts's description Of serious
acts OF violence and boycottng afforded
much amusement to the attorneys for the
coal companies.
DR.. Roberts gave it as his opinion that
attempts to have union men form sepa-
rate organization We're instiSated by par
ties opposed TO organized labor.
GENERAL CARELESSNESS.
In attempting to show that carelessness
Of the miners contributes materially to
che danger of their occupation, Chairman
Gray interposed with the remark that a
margin OF carelessness incident to human
nature must be taken into account when
estimating the dangerousness of hazard
Gus occupation.
The interest in the commissioners and
their investigation has not decreased.
Each day hundreds of men line the
streets, and watch the arbitrators walk
from the hotel to the courtroom. Most
of them are idle mins-workers, and they
give the commissioners a somewhat criti-
cal look as they pass by. Each session
Of tie commission finds the hearing room
damned with interested persons. The
commissioners continue to hold daily con-
feronces. but what is discussed IS. as a
rule. strictly withheld from the public.
RATE OF FATALITY.
Answering a question propounded by
Judge Gray yesterday afternoon, DR.. Rob-
erts said to-day that comparison OF ia
talities on all railroads in the United
States with those in the anthracite fields
shows that 2.5 per 1000 railroad employees
are killed annually. while S51 per LOCO
employees are killed in the anthracite in
dustry The fatalities among switchmen,
fla gmen, and watchmen in 1900, he stated
to be 5.3 per 1000, as against 55 per LOCO
among miners and their ldborers WoTk.nS
inside the mines.
The fact was brought out in the course
OF the cross. examination that the Penn
sylvania Legislature in 1891 passed COM
pulsory education law. applying to every
child under IL years. and that under its
provisions parents of delinquents can be
punished Answering q question by Com
missioner Parker. Dr. Roberts said that
of sixty-four children employed in the
Oliphant breaker. near this city. fifty per
cent. were under II years Of age, and had
others dependent upon them.
At this juncture, DR.. Roberts was tenn
porarily withdrawn as a witness, and Or.
John O'NIalley, OF Scranton, was. guess
toned by James l.. Lenahan, counsel for
the mine-workers. His experience had
been that catarri, asthma rheumatism,
stomach troubles. pneumonia. sciatica,f
l,mbago, anaenia etc, We're the diseases
from which miners usually suffered.
MINERS ASTHMA,
Asked to infinitely describe miners asth-
ma, he said that 1t was condition due
to the Inhalation OF great quantities Of
coal dust. powder smoke. and v1tiated
air.
Questioned as to whetherssor not the
disease was durable, the Doctor stated
that the fatalities resulting from it Hsre5