The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1921-11-14
BY JOE ROSS

BY JOE ROSS
Any writer of worth while ma
terial finds himseit at all times face
to face with serious problems. II
he be a writer of fiction these prob
lens are of one nature. II a writer
of technical works they are OF an
ether. The work of the fictionist
must carry the ring of truth. The
work OF the technical writer must be
truth.
The author of technical articles
and books knows that if his work
lis to accomplish the purpose for
which it is intended there must be
no flaw in it, just as the fictionist
knows that If his plots do not hold
together his circle of readers will
never be a large one.
| When man gains a reputation as
writer of technical articles, a repu-
tation not only in one country, but
throughout the world he must cer-
tainly be regarded as an authority
in his field. When, added to that
/ he has also gained a reputation as a
translator of some of the most inn
portant books published. a trans
lator whose work is pronounced by
critics to be correct not only as to
words, but to carry the identical
thought and spirit of the original
| he must certainly be regarded moi
only as an authority in his own line
of endeavor, but as a man who has
delved deep into all the serious prob
lens of life.
Such man is J. Elias Fries, chief
engineer of the Tennessee Coal, Iron
and Railroad company. A quiet, UNI
assuming sort of man, whose offices
are here in Birmingham. A man with
twinkling eye, a contagious smile
and the gift of understanding A man
who not only knows his work, but
who is able to impart some of his
vast store of knowledge to others.
| Mr.. Fries was born in Sweden, He
graduated as an electrical and me-
chanical engineer from "Kongl TEX
niska Hogskolan," Stockholm. in
1898, and upon graduation commenced
the practice of his profession. hold
ing engineering positions in Sweden
from, 1888 to 1903.
In 1903 Mr.. Fries came to the
United States and became connected
with Westinghouse, Church & Kerr
Co. of New YosS in drafting con-
struction, Long Island railroad cleo
IRRIGATION.
This completed, in 1905, Mr.. Fries
went with Allis-Chalmers company
as engineer, contract department
remaining With that firm until 1907
when he became connected with the
Canadian General Electric company
as engineer. power plants and power
transmissions.
In 1908, Mr.. Fries left the Canadian
General Electric company to go with
Crocker-W Wheeler company. With this
firm he was one and one-half years
in charge of the estimating depart
ment. another year and half as in
dustrial engineer, two years as Pa
cific coast engineer and two years
as assistant chief engineer.
Then it was that Mr.. Fries, rs have
SO many others, heard and needed
the call of Birmingham. In October
1915, he became chief electrical en-
gineer of the Tennessee Coal, Iron
and Railroad company, remaining In
that capacity until February, 1920
when he became chief engineer OF
that company, in which official ca
pacity he is at the present time.
An article by Mr.. Fries which for
all time stamped him as an authority
in engineering circles was published
in The Eel Age in November, l90o
This was entitled, Current Surge in
an Induetive Circuit" Following
this in December of the same year
was "Tensile Strength of Trolley
Wires" in the same publication.
Mr.. Fries work sprang into Inn
mediate popularity, and he was be-
Il ing called upon for more of ii all the
time. So it was that In January
1909, there appeared his Parallel OPP
Grafton of Turbine Driven Central
Stations" in the Electrical Revolu-
ton and western Electrician.
Then in April, 1910, there appeared
from Mr.. Fries pen an article upon a
somewhat different subject. HIS