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Show FEDERAL CHIEF OF MINES ti In tho appointment of Dr. Joseph A. Holmes to bo director of the now bureau of mines It is conceded con-ceded In Washington that probably tho best equipped man for tho position In tho United States has been gained for this Important post. Ever slnco congress passod tho bill creating tho bureau and giving It authority to Investigate mine disasters, make experiments nnd suggest means wheroby nccldents may bo decreased and tho yenrly casualty list shortened, efforts havo been made by hundreds of interested persons to havo Dr. Holmes selected as chief. Tho indorsement indorse-ment of all tho coal operators' associations has been given, every prominent mining engineer In tho country, Including John Hays Hammond, has mado his plea for Dr. Holmes, and tho miners' union has added Its efforts in his cause. Three great delegations visited Washington early In tho summer to urge tho appointment, tho managers of sixty collieries Joined In tho lnudatory chorus, and sixty-two senators put their nnmes to a petition In bis behalf. All this recognition was won by Dr. Holmes whtlo serving as chief technologist tech-nologist of the technological branch of tho geological survoy. In this capacity ho was carrying on In a minor way tho work which ho now will develop to tbo fullest oxtent. Tho work of making mines snfo has occupied tho attention of Dr. Holmes for years; and ho has mado rapid advancement in tho finding of effectlvo means to tho end which ho has sought. Ho gained tho confhlonco of labor and capital, and It Is well known hero that his subordinates aro loyalty itself to tho chief. |