Omaha daily bee., 1909-11-21
lined and no supports have been substi-

mined and no supports rave been substi-
tuted.
Modern coal mining called for the re-
moval of two-thirds of all coal on first
mining and the taking out of pillars con-
aiming the remaining coal in the final
cleanup.
And to add to the gloom of Scranton,
there is no redress for damage for lack
of something on the statute books of Penn
sylvania for the protection of the surface.
The surface is owned by the freeholder. A
corporation owns the coal. This under
standing is expressed in all deeds and a
deed is a contract. The purchasers of the
surface waived all right to coal reservation
when he signed the deed, in consideration
OF a reduction in the price of the land. All
deeds specifically state that the right to
remove all coal and minerals from under
the surface is reserved by ''the party of the
first part"
Millions to Save School Buildings.
There are some forty public school build
ings in Scranton. Under every one Of the
forty odd buildings there are pillars of
coal. 1t belongs to the coal companies.
BY right of eminent domain the school
board may take over the coal by condem-
nation proceeding, provided the coal is pur-'
chased. 1t is valued at $1,000, 600. Should
the school board make a step to claim the
coal for the support of the school build
ings the price would jump instantly TO
1900, 900; probably $5.OOO,O 900. To save its
schools Scranton must spend $4,OOO,OOO or
IS, OO0,O0 in a lump.
Seven years ago a budding politician on
breaking into the state senate conceived
that ha ppVYI1 bring Taliaf nv introducing
a bill providing for the securing Of sur
face In the anthracite fields. He con-
suited able lawyers about his proposed
bill. He was told that the legislature
| could enact no law that would interfere
with the constitutional clause relative to
contract rights. Mr.. Politician was in
formed that even the Legislature of Penn
s~ylvania, which can do most anything,
could not disturb or abrograte a contract
between parties, by any act OF assembly
The owners OF the surface in Scranton
waived their rights to protection as part of
their bargains in taking title to the surface
! and are left without redress. They nave
only TO sit around and watch for fissures
to break in the earth and then move along
and watch for the next signs Of things
doing underground.
II Scranton falls, It will tumble as no city
on the American continent has fallen, be-
cause it viii fall to stay down, and a
referee win not be needed to make the
count.
In nearly every section of the city where
the removal Of pillars is in progress as the
last act Of mining, the sounds of blasting
and even the thud of the miners pick, are
udible day and night. Chairs in homes
have been seen TO tumble over, pictures
fall from the walls, and dishes rattle and
break from the conclusion Of dynamite
blasts a few feet below. Basement floors
have fallen into mine workings and car
ried with the fall the family store Of pro-
visions.
Occasionally a COW or horse I'm pasture
fields drops from sight into pot holes forty
and fifty feet deep. Ropes are usgi &c
drag up the fallen animal IL il Is not killed
Usually il is killed in the tumble, and II
then stays in its automatic, self-madt
grave.
Accidents Of this nature are so frequent
that they lack the feeblest element Of ex.
element. Larger things are looked for
scranton goes TO bed wondering II tn,
morning viii find the city entombed,-
Washington Post.