University of Delaware - Blue Hen Yearbook (Newark, DE)

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Jopsepl Hechart Frazer, B. C. E. OSEPH HECKART FRAZER was born at Port Deposit, Maryland, on September 30, 1882, For six years he lived with his parents on the shore of the SBusquehanna until, in 1888, the family moved to Newark, Delaware. He received his first taste of school life at the Newark Academy, which he soon left for the public schools of the town. Having graduated from school in June, 1899, he entered Delaware College the following September as a student in the Civil Engineering Department. During the summer following his junior year at college, he worked for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad. He then returned to college and was graduated with his class in 1903. After graduation Frazer again worked for the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad under the supervision of Division Engineer William L. Sissons, spending soms time with him on a preliminary survey in West Virginia, In 1904 the Bolivian Government asked through their representative in this eountry for an engineer to make a railroad survey for them. Mr. Sissons was chosen for the task, and being allowed to pick his men, he seleeted Joseph Frazer as one to accompany him to South America. The party set out for Bolivia in De- cember, 1904. But a short time after their arrival in the roof of the world'a name by which Bolivia is sometimes knownthe corps was dishanded on aceount of the ill-health suffered by the chief engineer and some of the party in conse- quence of the extreme altitude of the country. All returned home except young Frazer, who determined to stick it out sinee he had gone so far. 5o he secured a position with the Andes Tin Company, for whom he worked about a year as min- ing emgineer, He then formed a partnership with an English business man by the name of Rumbolt, and together they set up the firm of Rumbolt Frazer, mining engi- neers, When, at the end of two years they were performing railroad work, Rum- bolt withdrew from the firm. His place was soon filled, however, by Mr. A. W. Yount, and with the firm now operating as Yount Frazer, bids were given al- most wholly on railroad work alone, The first contract that the new firm received was for a railroad, fifty-five miles in length, and running from Cochabamba to Oruro, The task of constructing this railroad was diffienlt in the extreme; their camps had to be pitehed at altitudes of from 15,000 to 16,000 feet above sea level, The suecess of the two young engi- neers on this work was remarkable and instantly brought them into prominence.

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It was about the time when this railroad was eompleted that Mr. Frazer met his death, His fatal illness was, no doubt, due indireetly to overwork. In a poor physical condition, he went on a four davs' duck shooting expedition with some friends near Lake Titicaca. Subjected to exposure and exertion he canght a severe eold, and upon going to La Paz on August 9, 1911, malignant influenza developed., He was carefully cared for in the home of a medical missionary whose wife was a trained nurse; but his ease was hopeless, owing to the altitude, which affected the lungs and heart. Muech information eoneerning the attitude of Mr. Frazer toward his work and life in Bolivia can be gained from the following telegram which was sent by Min- ister 11. G. Knowles to the Department of State and later transmitted by the de- partment to the family of the deceased : Lecation oF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, La Paz, Bolivia, August 21, 1911. The Honorable, the Secretary of State, Washinglon, D. ', Sik: I have the honor to confirm my cablegram of today informing the de- partment of the death of Joseph H. Frazer. He was a eitizen of the United States and his residence was with his parents, at Newark, Delaware. He eame to this country seven years ago and had been following his profession of mining and eivil engineering. For the past three years he had been engaged in railroad work, and as a partoer of A. W, Yount, located at Oruro. He had in the last two years un- dertaken and performed with marked suecess, several large and important eon- tracts. At the time of his death the firm was engaged as prineipal contractors in the construetion of the railroad to run from Rio Mulatos to Potosi. They wers about to close a contract for the construetion of 300 kilometers of railroad in the southern part of Chile, involving many millions of dollars. He had already, at the age of 29, established a reputation on the West Coast of South America as one of the best and most reliable contractors that ever came here. He possessed un- usual ability as an engineer and contractor, had an enormous amount of energy, and was a hard worker. He had marvelous influence over his workmen, all of whom preferred to work for him rather than to play for other men, He made the lahorers feel that he was one of them with kindness and eonsideration, which had a reformatory and econstructive influenee even on the roughest characters. From the lowest workmen to the party giving the contract he had their confidence, admiration and esteem, which grew into an intense affection. It may be truth- fully said that not another contractor in South Amerjea stood in such a favorable position and had before him such a bright carveer, It is the opinion of eminent men here that had he lived until 40 and continued his career, he would have sur- passed the achievements and reputation of Henry Miegga. His suceess here is a shining example of what is possible for a young man with ability, energy, character, and ambition to accomplish in South America. b