Thoreau writes in his journal:
P.M.—To Clamshell by river . . .
The islands of the river, below the Assabet especially,—as Hosmer’s, and the one just below French’s Rock,—are now covered with canary grass, which has almost. entirely done and closed up . . .
Thoreau also writes to David Heard:
Dear Sir,
You did not give me any data concerning the Town or Causeway Bridge—that is the old wooden one—whether it was longer than the present one—&c By the vote of the Committee I am requested “To learn, if possible, the time of erection of each bridge, and if any abutments have been extended since the building of any bridge, & when.” I think you told me that the stone one was built about 10 years ago.
I have done with your map, and, if you so direct, will leave it with Dr. Reynolds.
Yrs truly
Henry D. Thoreau
“Thoreau was hired to survey the river, its depth, its bridges and dams because river haying land suffered from flooding with water backed up by various obstructions.”
