Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1902-11-21
Say the Occupation of a Mine
Worker Is Very Unhealthy
and Shortens Life.
80 Per CENT OF men ANAEMIC,
Principal Ills Miners Asthma, Rheu'
matism, Lumbaso and sciatiea'
One Man coughed Up Coal Dust
IS Years After Leaving Mines.

|
the anthracite coaI industry and the
effect employment in and about the
mines has upon the health OF the
mine workers were the principal
things brought before the arbitration
commission yesterday by the attor-
neys of each side of the controversy.
While there was an entire absence
of oratory or brilliant cross-examina'
ton, which marked the proceedings
during the last few days, the cross
examination nevertheless closely held
| the attention of the commissioners
and they gained much information
on the several features touched upon
by witnesses.
The afternoon session was partic-
ularly intere sting, because it brought
out much expert testimony on the
part Of the health of the mine work
ers. The physicians who have prac-
ticed in Scranton and Wilkesbarre
| took the stand for the miners and IN
substance testified that the occupa-
| ton of a mine worker was very un-
healthy and shortened his life.
One physician, DR.. Frank P. Lenahan,
of Wilkesbarre, who says he has had
long experience among mine work
ers, testified that 80 per cent OF the
men who worked in the mine are
anaemic. The health is impoverished
and their general condition is below
par, thus decreasing their earning
power. The principal ills suffered by
the miners, the physicians said, were
the miners asthma, rheumatism, lum-
bago and sciatica. The miners asth-
ma comes from coal dust, powder
smoke and vitlated air. DR.. John
O'Malley, Of Scranton, said that at
postmortems he had seen miners
lungs as black as anthracite itself,
and DR.. Lenahan testified he had per-
sonal knowledge Of man coughing
up coal dust nine years after he left
the mines. He said he had information
that a man had coughed up coal dust
Is years after he had left the mines
It was also stated that 80 per cent
of the miners who reach the age OF
so years are afflicted with some form
Of rheumatism.
The cross-examination Of Rev.
Peter Roberts, D. D., OF Mahanoy
City, Pa, who has studied the anthra'
cite coal industry and written a book
on the subject, left the witness stand
shortly after the noon recess. He
began his testimony Wednesday.
Copious extracts from his book were
read and placed on record. Exon
gresham Simon P. Wolverton, coun-
sci for the Reading company, read
much of the matter pertaining to VIC
lence in the 1900 strike, and also read
articles written by Mr.. Roberts dur
ing the progress Of the late contest.
which he described in strong Ian
guage the acts of violence, intimi-
dalton and boycotting committed dur
ing that suspension. His articles
spoke Of some Of these acts as
brutal outrages," and he also brand
ed the unions action in calling out
the steam men in Juneas "foolhardy."
In explaining his articles DR.. Roberts
said that he did not wish to infer that
the organization was responsible for
all the lawlessness committed. The
doctor said Wednesday that newspa-
per accounts exaggerated the amount
Of lawlessness in the coal regions,
but Mr.. Wolverton's reading Of DR..
Roberts description Of serious acts
Of violence and boycotting afforded
much amusement for the attorney for
the coal companies.
DR.. Roberts gave it as his opinion
that attempts to have non-union men
form a separate organization insti-
gated by parties opposed to organized
labor. In attempting to show that
carelessness of the miner contributes
materially to the dangerousness Of
his occupation. Chairman Gray inter
posed with the remak that a margin
of Carelessness incident to human ma
ture must be taken into account when
estimating the dangerousness Of any
hazardous occupation.
Mr.. Wilcox consumed the greater
part Of the time Of the afternoon ses-
sion in reading extracts from the
book Of DR.. Roberts on the anthracite
coal industry. Occasionally he asked
a question, and, replying to one, DR..
Roberts said that an established min
imum wage would necessarily enable
a man to live as man.
Answering question by Commits
sioner Parker, DR.. Roberts said that
of the 81 children employed in the
ELEPHANT breaker near this city, 30
per cent were u1der IA years Of age.
and had others dependent on them.
The health of miners was still IN.
der investigation when the commits
sion adjourned until today.
The commissioners were in confer
ence last night until almost midnight.
Among the matters discussed was
that of having botH sides present evil
dence more rapidly than it is now
being done.