History of Decatur, (Macon County) Illinois United States of America

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Biographies:

A Short Biography of Arthur Powell Davis

Arthur Powell Davis, hydrographical engineer, was born in Decatur, Macon county, Ill., Feb. 9, 1861; son of John and Martha (Powell) Davis; grandson of Joseph Davis and of Joseph Powell; and nephew of Maj. J. W. Powell, director of the U.S. geological survey. He was graduated at the Junction City high school in 1878 and at the State normal school of Kansas in 1882. He was assistant topographer on the U.S. geological survey, 1882-84, and full topographer for the survey from 1884. He was engaged in geodetic triangulation and astronomical work, and topographic mapping of territory in New Mexico, Arizona and Southern California, 1884-94. He received the degree of B.S. from Corcoran scientific school in 1888. In 1894 he was assigned to duty in the division of hydrography and surveyed and established stations for stream measurements and for investigating hydrographic problems in the arid regions of the United States, and was given charge of all the stream measurements conducted by the U.S. geological survey. In December, 1897, he was detailed by President McKinley as expert hydrographer in connection with the Nicaragua canal commission, having entire charge of stream measurement and water supply, and received from congress an extra allowance of $500 as bonus for his work. He was married in 1888 to Elizabeth Brown. He was elected an associate member of the American society of civil engineers June 7, 1893. He is the author of: Tables for Obtaining Differences of Altitude (1893); Plan of a System of Irrigation for the Gila River Indian Reservation in Arizona (1895), published by order of the U.S. senate; Irrigation near Phoenix, Arizona (1896); River Heights for 1896 (1897); Reports of Progress of Stream Measurements (1898); Water Supply and Irrigation on the Potomac Basin (1899); and Hydrography of Nicaragua (1899).

From: Twentieth Century Biographical Dictionary of Notable Americans, Johnson, Rossiter, editor