The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1941-03-12
Many Changes Recalled by
Retiring Township Official

Jacksonville, Mich, Mar. l2-Wil-
mer II. Corkins, who Is the retir.
ing highway commissioner OF Up.
SLANT Township. holds somewhat
OF record as to number OF years
service. Mr. Corkins was first
elected TO the Office In April. 1918.
and has been reelected each year
since that time. He has seen many
changes in the township both in
population and the original roads.
Many farms have been subdivided
and dozens OF new houses have
been erected. Many new roads
have been built and some old roads
have been discontinued. The most
important beinI the old futile
Hill Rd. across the Huron River
from the north River Rd. TO the
south River Rd. or more recently
named the Huron River DR..
In 1918 the township system was
somewhat different than It is today,
as the highways were taken care Of
entirely by the township, excepting
Michigan Ave, state road. Under
the old system road warrants were
made out for each road district
which then numbered 81. These
warrants contained the name OF the
property owners. number OF acres
and valuation OF property and the
amount Of the road tax which had
previously been determined at the
town meeting. a pathmaster was
appointed in each road district and
II was his duty to notify the pro-
perty owners OF the amount OF their
road tax and allow them to work u
they wished. all work, OF course,
under supervision OF the commits.
sioner. At that time there were
no subdivisions in the township.
There were two funds to draw
from for work on the highways; the
highway improvement. from when
money was drawn for buying gravel,
culverts and bridges, and the road
repair fund from which money was
drawn for labor.
During spring treshet in 1918
the Lowell bridge across the HUI.
ron River collapsed when one
abutment washed out. At the
same time the bridge at the Pa.
per Mill washed out. Lowell bridge
was repaired and a new bridge at
Paper Mill was built by the Town.
ship and City of Ypsilanti.
About Is years ago road grader
purchased by the township, elm.
mated much of the work that was
formerly done with teams, and far
more work coulc be accomplished
in less time.
In 1925 the Jacksonville bridge
over the river was raised four feet
10 allow more water flowage after
the dam at French Landing was
Guilt by the Edison Company.
Practically all land was donated
to the township for the extension
OF the Wizard Rd. from Tyler Ri.
TO the North River or now known
as the Ford Dam Rd. AS this road
led through a wooded area II was
necessary to cut down trees, blast
stumps and draw gravel to form
the road bed. This was about -
years ago.
In 1892 the Ford Dam ana
power plant was QUILT q half mile
west OF Jacksonville. necessitating
the opening OF road which merely
connects the north and south River
Rds. However. this road was built
and donated BY lie Ford Motor
Company. The futile Bridge was
dismantled Of planks and steel
stringers and the skeleton OF the
bridge, with the aid of the wind
and an ice jam. finally toppled into
the river.
The Virginia highway. at the
west city limits of Ypsilanti which
connects the Paper Mill Rd. with
Washtenaw Ave. is one OF the few
roads TO be given a right Of way
across a railroad. Permission was
obtained from the Michigan Public
Utilities Commission OF Lansing
and 81 900 had TO be deposited in a