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J. A. HOLMES DIES MARTYR TO MIRERSDirector of Federal Bureau of Mines Lost His Health Seek-Ing “ Safety for Men.”WAS A NOTED GEOLOGISTHe Discovered That Dust from Bituminous Coal Was More Dangerous Than Firedamp.DENVER. July 13.-Joseph Austin Holmes. Director of the Federal Bureau of Mines at Washington and a widely known geologist. died at his home here early today of tuberculosis. Dr. Holmes had been In poor health for several months, due to overwork. He came to Denver about four months ago with hi* fnmlly In the hopo of regaining strength, but grew steadily weaker He was born at Laurens. 8. C., and was Tm years old. After receiving his education at Cornell Cniverslty. where he was graduated in 1^*1 with the degree of Bachelor of Science. Dr. Holmes became Professor of Geology and Natural History at the University of North Carolina While a member of the Faculty he was appointed State Geologist, and held this position, in addition to his teaching, until llML. During this period he organized und was President of the North Carolina Good Roads Association, and was acUve In advocating the passage of the law whereby every county could use its own convicts for road building, provided that it was able to support them. The State furnished the Inspectors, and the law resulted In a great extension of good roads.In 1904 Dr. Holmes was appointed hy President Roosevelt as chief of the United States Geological Survey laboratories, which nave headquarters in St. Louis and Pittsourgh and arc used for the testing of fuels and structural materials. His services In this position were so noteworthy tlmt he was appointed chief of the technological branch of the Geological Survey whicn Is In charge of the invcatigation of mineaCpj£skl,?nt Taft In 1910 appointed Dr. He lines head of the newly created Bu-- H Mine.. This appointmerit came a surprise, as it was known that he is one of the interior Department men u-r.a rotrnrited bv Secretary K. A.as one oi tne *.•«-»••......ho was regarded by Secretaryalllnger as inimical to him. __Under Dr. Holmes’s management gre»‘ rogress was made in perfecting methods f saving lives In mine accidents and for ssenlng the dangers to which urider-round workers are exposed. He orf“£‘ ;ed the first national mine »afetydem; initration, which was held In 1 ittshurg l i Hill, which was largely attended and asuited in mine owners, Superintend^ nta, and miners learning manv was ofSnof Mm^s mo.0! important iscoverles was that the dust from bl-;ir.lnous coal wn* more dangerous to liners than firedamp. This was con-•nry to the old theory, which taught lat coal dust could not explode without as. and which had cost many thou-Yicsid°rVhl* degree of B S A‘“from thef P. Sc. from the I nlverslty of I Itts-urgh. He was a member of the Na-cnal Conservation Commission, the lining Legislation Commission of 1111-ois. the American Society laterials. the American Institute of lining Engineers, the Academies of ence of St. Lou!* and North ( arollna.enct* or hi. i'OuiF Him «»»• American Society of Mechanical Ln »eers. the Cosmo* Club of U ash-:ton. and the Engineers’ Club of New |r Holme* was also a Fellow orrk Dr liorme* w.in * * ••'17 v-. Geological So* lety of America He Is ■vived by his widow and four children.gpectnl to The NVic York Timet WASHINGTON. July 13.—The news of « death Of Dr. Holmes ‘hough not tirely unexpected in official circles, me a* a great shock to his friends In e Bureau of Mines and throughout flcial and scientific circles generally. Van H Manning. Acting Director of0 Bureau of Mines, commenting on r. Holmes’s death, said .In the death of Ir Holmes the peo-n of the United State* lose one of olr most remarkable and efficient pub-servants. And the saddest part of It1 Is that Dr. Holmes is a victim of erwork, .t too great devotion to tn® ill. * which had be.*n assigned to himbehalf of the safety of the million iners in the United States. He was ie of the most enthusiastic, Indefatiga-c workers I ever had the pleasure of soclatlng with.•• it is thought that Dr. Holmeas fre-lent visits to mines In which there i re disasters and his continual in-■itence of going only where hi* trained scue crews should go. sharing the ingers that should have gone only to or.- robust men. seriously affected his 11th. His trip to Alaska two years :n to learn concerning the great coal elds there met with many hardship* id severe .exposure, and It Is believed at this hastened the end.•* Ir. Holmes Is Indeed a martyr to e chusc of safety snrong the miners, id his name is added to the honor roll three bureau rescuers who In the past ive up their lives to this cause.”PANADA NATI 1PAI I7FS 3R OfiQ !
Newspaper Details
New York Times
New York, New York, US
Wed, Jul 14, 1915
Page 9
Full Page
Clipped by
Nick N.
NA, 13 Nov 2024
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