Observation Tour Ends

OBSERVATION TOUR ENDS

STRIKE COMMISSION COMPLETE INSPECTION OF MINES.

WILL BEGIN TAKING TESTIMONY AT SCRANTON NOV. 14.

SEVEN MINES AND MANY BREAKERS VIEWED WEDNESDAY.

Mahanoy City, Pa., Nov. 6.- The anthracite strike commission ended its tour of observation of the coal fields in the Panther Creek valley Wednesday, and the members of the party will return to their homes and will meet again at Scranton on Nov. 14 to take the testimony of the miners. The biggest day's work of the entire trip was accomplished yesterday, when the commissioners made a complete inspection of two large collieries and a tour of the regions lying between Mt. Carmel and this city. Six working days have been consumed in traveling from place to place in the coal regions and the arbitrators feel that they are now qualified to sit in judgment on the controversy between mine owners and their employers.

In all, the commissioners were lowered into seven mines of varying conditions and went through several breakers. They met the general superintendents, the mine superintendents and the foremen of the various collieries visited and also personally talked wlth the grimy coal diggers in the dark gangways and chambers hundreds of feet below the earth's surface. They heard the grievances the workers claim they have and also heard the companies' side of the complaint. Besides this, the commissioners gained a somewhat technical knowledge of mining in its many different features that will be of the greatest assistance to them. They will be able to understand questions and ask questions where they would not have been able to understand them if they had not been underground.