The copper era and Morenci leader. [volume] (Clifton, Ariz.) 1911-1929, 1916-06-16

Saturday Niqht-Gold Watch and
Silver Set Presented to Departing
Guests-Mr. and Mrs. Fraser Leave
for New Home Thursday Morning.
The largest reception ever held in
Clifton in honor of a departing citi-
zen was that of Saturday night at the
Princess Theatre when the autditori-
um was packed with hundreds of
friends who had assembled for the.
purpose of bidding farewell to Mr..
and Mrs. George w. Fraser, and al
so to present them with handsome
remembrances in recognition of their
friendship and good will toward the
departing guests. -1t
Adams orchestra opened the pro
gram with selection after which
Mr.. Fraser was escorted to the stage
amid generous applause. His appear
ance was followed shortly by Mrs.
Fraser who was also heartily receiv-
ed and they took their places in the
center of the stage. Several of the
old time friends of Mr.. and Mrs.
Fraser attended them on the stage
during the presentation ceremonies.
DIR. L. A. w. Burtch, in behalf of
the committee in charge of affairs, in
his usual happy manner introduced
Hon. John Christy, who made the pre-
sentation speech. In introducing the
principal speaker of the evening DR..
Burtch prefaced his remarks by say
ing that he felt this honor should have
been delegated to one who was him
self an old timer and that although he
had known several of the old timers
whose names he mentioned since they
wore knee pants, he felt that on this
occasion he could not do the subject
Justice. However, the reception of
This remarks by the large audience
proved otherwise.
Mr.. John Christy, in opening his re-
marks, said: mo eloquence nor
words of speech are needed vat this
time to attest to the esteem in which
the guests of honor are held. This
large and representative gathering of
Clifton's citizens attests to the fact
more strongly than words can tell"
Mr.. Christy's speech was full of hui
NOR and pathos and in closing he
stated that when the history of Cliff
ton was written the first page would
be devoted to Mr.. Fraser as one of
its foremost citizens and that those
who were there assembled to do the
departing guests honor would always
remember them with gratitude and af-
fection, and he was confident that the
successes of Mr.. Fraser in his new
field of work would overshadow those
he attained in Clifton Mr.. Christy
concluded by presenting Mr.. Fraser
with beautifully engraved gold
watch and to Mrs. Fraser was ten
dered a handsome silver tea set, these
being the gifts contributed by hun
dreds of their loyal Clifton friends.
Mr.. and Mrs. Fraser both feelingly
responded to the tribute and assured
their friends that they would ever
hold their friendship at it's true worth
and that in their far away home they
would often think of these friends
with love and appreciation. After
q short reception dancing was enjoyed
by those present, the music being fur
nished by Adams orchestra.
Mr.. Fraser was one of the oldest
men in point of service with the
Arizona Copper company, having
come to Clifton from Motherwell,
Scotland, June 18, 1884, and taking a
position with the company and being
In their service continuously for 80
years. Prior to coming to Clifton he
spent few months in Wyoming. In
the early days life was not all rosy.
He tells of various conflicts with the
Indians and of how the section men on
the A. & N. NJ. railway were at
times attacked by them and were COM
PEELED to work with rifles ready at
hand.
Mr. Fraser built the first blower room
at the old smelter which was in charge
of Emil Schuman at that time. This
plant was run by water turbine and
at times when the river was low
much difficulty was experienced in
1oorino tho machinery in motion
Later he had charge of the machinery
as repair man and held this position
for ten years, from 1884 to 1894. At
this time nothing but black copper
was made as there was no converter
plant and much of the copper values
were not saved, however, in recent
years the old Stag dumps have been
excavated and these rich values have
been redeemed. The converter plant
was built in 1901 and was in charge
of Phil Heir as foreman. Mr.. Fraser
was in charge of the converter plant
as general foreman for six years. AT
this time the smelter had no superin-
tendent but was under the supervis-
ion of the general manager who acted
also as superintendent of the smelling
department. In 1907 Mr.. Fraser as
sumed the position of superintendent
which office he held until the old
smelter was closed in December, 1913
Upon the building of the new smelte1
he became general foreman of repairs
and had charge of the excavation
work at the old plant. This position
he held until the first of the present
year when at the conclusion of the
long strike he was placed in charge
of the employment bureau of the Ari
zona Copper Company, Ltd.
In the civic life of the community
Mr.. Fraser always took an active
part and upon the incorporation Of
the Town. of Clifton he was elected iti
first mayor which office he held con
tinuously for seven years, retiring
from public service the first of this