The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-02-27

= ""i h"HNlA lrI'Hrll'u 'il'lEtu
from the Calumet Il Hccla 80 10 shaft
on the amygdaloid vein shortly be-
fore 1 o'clock rnia afternoon after
spending two hours quarter of
mile beneath the caIths surface
"Tramping around down there GER
talnly gives fellow an appetite" said
Rep. Switzer Of Ohio, one OF the mem
bers Of the congressional investigatiug
committee which Is inquIring into con-
ditions in the copper country.
Led by captain John Knox, the IN
yeSU ators went below this mornluE
soon after 10 o'clock To learn of mine
conditions first hand. Tom James
mine inspector of Houghton county,
Hubert lauN a striking miner, and two
newspaper men accompanied them.
The man cage stopped first at the
ninth level and the delegation walked
To the extreme end of the two drifts,
About 400 feet from the shaft they en-
countercd a miner drilling holes in the
rock with a jackhammer. Further along
they saw two men rigging up water
liner, whereupon Laux called the com
mittee's attention To the fact. remark
ing that it was too heavy for one man
TO handle. Captain Knox replied that
a miner was supposed 10 get help from
another miner in setting up his ma
chine and that the men always worked
within calling distance.
Shovel Rock Into Car.
Chairman Taylor went first in the
1OO-foot climb down the ladder To the
tenth level, Mr.. Switzer disappeared
through the hole after him, loudly de-
manding Where are we going here"
All members Of the party reached the
level without making misstep and |
spent half an hour or more exploring |
the drifts and climbing into the Slopes |
Coming upon a trammer busy shoy- /
cling rock into g car Mr. Taylor
thoueht he would like TO try his hand
at it and he lifted the dirt at great
rate for a minute or two.
Il guess that's enough for me, said
the chairman, pulling and blowing from
eXertion, here Howell YOU try it,"
Mr.. Howell took the shovel and
pitched in. He didn't say word until
he had landed the fifth shovelful Then
he paused, and looking toward Cap
tain Knox, inquired: Il want 10 know
whether | am working on contract or
company account" The captain replied
that he could name his own terms.
Then make Casey Try it," he re-
piled
Mr. Casey was willing and he went
at it like an old hand. 'Il show Nou
fellows that can come back" he as
serted, and the Croatian trammvr
looked on in silent admiration while
the Pennsl lvania miner-rongressmlu
filled the ear for him about three times
as fast as he could do it.
In the meantime Mr.. SWitzcr had dis
appeared behind a rock ana was not 10
be found when his turn came. He was
busy inspecting a ouc-man drill when
he was reproached by his fellow tu-
vestilators for laying down" ON the
job.
Thought Drill Looked Easy
None of the congressman cared to-
tackle the drill although each confess
ed that it looked to he easy enough ,o
operate.
The seventeenth and eiGhteeuth lev
els were explored i'm order to show the
committee that the ventilation on the
blind drifts was not had, as complain
ed of by some Of the strikers. LauN
himself admitted that conditions in the
mine were good.
After coming TO the surface, the con-
gressmen were the luncheon guests II
Captain Knox at the Miscowaubik club
and they spent the remainder Of the
afternoon exploring shafts 4 and ~
the conElomerate lode.
Rep. Taylor. of Arkansas. remained
behind at the hotel explaining that he
did not care to ~ underground
Ahmeek Is Visited.
After three members Of the commit
tee yesterday afternoon had iourneyel
about the G. S II. surface plant in
specting the Red Jacket shaft and rock
house. the machine shop bath and
bunk houses library, high school and
the manual training school, they wcrt
To Ahmeek To inspect the dry and bun't
houses about which SO mucn has bean
said by federation witnesses.
While the committee was non-com-
initial il was apparent they found con
ditions satisfactory. Worlmcn vhoi
were seated at the supper table at tho
Ahmeek Mining company's boarding.
house told the committee they were
satisfied with conditions underground
and on surface; that they were not
forced to remain within the bounds of
the hunk house and that they could
leave any time they desired.
Interest In Manual Training.
Possibly the member who displayed
the deepest interest in the high school
and manual training school was Chair
TuxY1pr H.. l.,rs. ~ Y