Maury, formed the foundation of all that subsequent research has revealed of the habits of our greatest river.[1] The War Department afterwards ordered additional observations to be made, which were elaborately discussed by General Humphries.
Maury also originated the plan of establishing water marks or river gauges at all the principal towns on the Mississippi, and its branches, in order that captains of steamboats and others interested "might every day be accurately informed through the telegraph what stage of water might be found in any of the tributaries." "It is believed that a record of these river gauges, properly kept, would enable intelligent observers to determine the effect upon the stream below of a freshet in any tributary, or set of tributaries."
His papers on The Defence of the [Great] Lakes and the West, and his advocacy of the Illinois and Michigan ship-canal as a measure of national defense, created a profound impression, particularly in the North-West, and were received with enthusiastic commendation. These papers were spread upon the journals of the legislature of Illinois, with a vote of thanks to the author.
When Congress had under consideration the cession of the "Drowned Lands" (belonging to the Government) along the Mississippi River to the several States in which they lay, Maury, at the request of one of the Senate Committee (J. H. Borland) having charge of the subject, prepared an elaborate Report and a Bill, providing that the States should proceed to redeem these lands according to a common plan to be matured by competent engineers selected for the purpose by the general government. "It has since become evident that, had this been carried out immense advantage would have been gained, and enormous loss and damage avoided," says the Memphis Eagle and Enquirer.
- ↑ Memphis Appeal
