Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1915-07-13

gave much attention to an investigation
of quarrying. metal mining and metal
lurgcal operations.
In 1903 and 1904 he organized and had
charge of the department Of mines ana
metallurgy of the worlds fair at st. Louis,
planning the exhibits to show mining and
metallurgical operations.
In 1904, when the government fuel IN
vestigations were authorized by Congress-
DR.. Holmes. having planned the work, was
offered it's supervision, but being unable
then to give it the necessary time, at his
request the supervision was placed under
a. committee. consisting of Messrs. Parker.
and Campbell of the geological survey and
DR.. Holmes. Under this committee the
Investigations were carried on to the end
of 1904.
Early in 1905 DIR. Holmes was appointed
by the director of the geological survey
to take individual charge of the fuel in
vestigations as enlarged and continued,
and of Investigations of mine explosions.
etc. These, developed during 1905 to
1910 under the geological survey, were
main work of the bureau of mines.
DIR. Holmes was a member of the
American Institute of Mining Engi-
neers and other mining societies, and
the mining investigation commission
of the state of Illinois.
DR.. Holmes inaugurated the move
ment for free entry into the United
States of mine safety and rescue ap-
pliances, and also the movement for
mine rescue work in this country by
private operators, by states and by
the federal government.
He planned the establishment. of the
three state mine rescue stations in IL
linois and the government mine rescue
experiment stations located at points
accessible to the principal coal fields
of the country.
Inspection of Coal Fields.
In 1907, on DR.. Holmes recommends
ton, President Roosevelt secured the
appointment by the governments of
Great Britain, Germany and Belgium
Of one distinguished engineer from
each of these countries to visit the
United States and in company with
these engineers DIR. Holmes visited the
more important coal fields of this
country to determine the extent to
which the modern safety practices of
other mining countries might be in
troducca IL the United States.
He organized ard directed the gov
ernment Investigations of mine explo-
sions. of explosives used in mining and
the use OF electricity in mining He
took personal part in the examination
of many of the mine disasters occur
ring in the United States during the
past few years.
In connection with his work in recent
years, friends and associates say, DIR.
Holmes overcame the suspicious and
won the confidence and cooperation
of both miners and mine owners
throughout the country.
When DR.. Holmes began his work
there was no definite system of rescue
work in any of the coal mines of the
country. There were but three sets of
oxygen apparatus in the United States
when he ordered a set for the bureau of
mines. The pulmotor was unknown.
First aid to the injured did not amount
to much outside of the anthracite dis
trict of Pennsylvania. Today the ma
jority of the big mining concerns of
the country have trained rescue corps
fitted with oxygen helmets and other
apparatus used in rescue work, as well
as trained corps in first aid to the in
jured.
Funeral Probably in Native City.
Word has not been received here as to
funeral services for the dead scientist
1t is thought that services and inter-
ment will be held in the city in South
Carolina where he was born.
Mr. Manning, acting director of the
bureau of mines, will attend the serv-
ices as representative of the bureau.