Newark post., 1912-04-10
DEATH JAMES R. MAXWELL
An Enviable Reputation as an
Engineer

James lluule NdA well. Tor so
many years well known to New
ark died at his home. Wilkins
Terrace. on Sunday. April I. Mr..
Maxwell had been in poor health
for the past two years. although
only his closest associates real
ned his condition..
Mr.. Maxwell ranked high in his
profession Of civil engineering.
acquiring an enviable reputation
durjng years of varied and inter-
psting experience.
Born in Delaware county, Pa.
as a boy he entered Hyatt's Mill
tary Academy. at Chester. After
studving at that institution he
entered Delaware College. follow
inc the prescribed course for one
wear. In 1860 he entered the Poly
technir College. and graduated in
1862. Immediately enterin. upon
the arduous duties Of his profes-
sion.
His first position was with the
Pennsylvania Railroad. Later he
was chief of IA party on explora-
tons and surveys for the Union
Pacific and Northern Pacific rail
ways.
Mr.. Maxwell saw much active
service in South America. He was
chief engineer of the Chimbota
Railroad and the Obras Publicos /:
also chief engineer Of the Central
Railroad of Peru. commonly call
ed the Oroya railway.
An interesting description
which gives some idea of the diff
fculties attending these accom-
plishments and their Importance
TO the Andes world, may be CLEAN
I'D from an article published in
Pearson S Magazine of February.
l9O2 The article describes the
Oroya railway as mot only the
pne which climbs higher than any
pther in the world" but differs
n many other ways. 1T provides
he only road in the world down
which man on wheels can travel
for over one hundred miles by his
bwn momentum. and practically
ft any pace to which the tiend of
feckleSsnesS may urge him. The
Summit Of the OrOya railway is
1866 feet above sea level. start
ng under the eye of eternal SHOWS
bnd ending after distance Of lO6
miles. among humming birds and
palms.
"The Rockies of the Canadian
Pacific are rocky and abrupt. but
he Andes of the COrdilleras are
FOckier and more abrupt. The
rockies are clad. as to their lower
Hopes. in the sad eternal pine. and
heir crests are dwarfed with
now. The Andes. from base to
ummit, are as naked as Eve. and
IS yellow as the sand of the sea-
hore. The snow line in the lati-
ude Of Lima is at $4,000 feet or
hereabouts. and though the mon
lrchS of the range carry white
heads, the foreground presented
70 the railway shows little OF such
hingS. 1t is. in fact. too sheer
nd self-contained.
1.-The walls that hug the line
over up to and through. the
ery clouds. How mortal engineer
yer surveyed such ground is one
those problems that shirk solu-
ION. On the faces Overhanglng
ne gorge through which the line
|oW borcS it sway, there is no
oothold for squirrel. The sur
{cyor is said to have been slung
yer the cliffs like an cgg-hunter
II. hIdda. but, even so. what a
lpcndouS, breakneck task !.
hes" cliffs Of the Andes are not
'yS to be played with.'
Mr.. Maxwell was also at one
me locating engineer for the
mon Pacific Railway.
Zen years AGO he retired from
|ab'lr service. since which time
eWark has been his home.
a widow and one daughter sur
five.
Funeral services were held at
'e lat" residence today. We'd
cSday. April 10. at = p. m. In
Fm'nt Head Of Christiana ceme-
ny.
NraSPS IT, Il E'pazar Ernest