The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-05-12
Flood

out Of their banks IN places and
flooded roads and lowlands.
Tanks Swept Away
Property damage consisted chief
ly in water flooding cellars, yards
and roafways. when a large Tree
fell in the river opposite the Sin
clair Refining Company yard on
Water St. river waters were di.
verted into the company storage
yard. sweeping away two $50 gal.
Ion tanks and about IS oil barrels,
number OF which were full of fuel
oil. Most OF the barrels with oil
In them were recovered, but a mum.
Der OF empty ones floated away
with the flood.
Park Flooded
Riverside Park was flooded to
depth Of four feet in places and
park benches and tables foated
from their moorings. Eight benches
were recovered and two were lost
as we're two tables.
Supplies Damaged
The White Palace Cafe. ! Z.
Michigan Ave, sustained a loss OF
81 400 10 food and other supplies
stored in the basement, Frederick
Schaefer, partner-owner, said to-
day There were about four and
one.half feet OF water in his cellar
at the peaK OF the food. Three cleo
trio motors were covered with wat
er and about half of the refrigera-
ton units were out OF operation.
Cellars Filled
Cellars in residences along Water
St were filled TO a depth OF seven
feet and a number of families were
evacuated from their homes.
Washouts in city and county
roads and streets caused some
loss and erosion OF road shoulders
was general in the area.
There is believed to be no danger
OF pollution OF city water even
though the field where wells are To-
Gated is flooded. The wells them
selves are sealed. Only possible
source OF contamination would be
the reservoir and there seems lit
tie likelihood that surface water
reached it, Extra chlorine is being
placed in the city water supply,
however, to make certain that the
water Is pure.
Spectators reported seeing
number OF carcasses OF dogs, sheep
and other animals lodged at dams
1 other river distractions.
10 ~, no -
be safe and will help control the
height of the water in the river be.
low them.
Save Plant
At Saline, 70 school boys who
were dismissed from school classes,
filled and piled sandbags along the
Saline River bank and helped save
the Ford Motor Company plant from
inundation.
The high water in the river this
week recalls the time in March,
1918. when ice jams, at the curve
below the Michigan Ave. bridge and
below the Peninsular Paper mill
and farther west backed up the
water. Early one morning the
dams near Ann Arbor started Civ
ing way and the flood broke the
Peninsular dam also. The water and
ice carried away the bridge east of
the mill and swept down to the
city forcing the center piers Of
the Forest Ave. bridge far to one
side. making the bridge unsafe for
travel for months, damned yainly
against the Cross St. bridge. but un-
dermined the Michigan Ave. bridge.
Water flowed far over the railiAgs,
swept on TO flood Water St. anu
spread out below TO nearly half
mile wide OF raging current and
overwhelming the lands along and
east Of Spring st. One milk wagon
driver was caught in the flood
near the creamery, but cut loose
his team and all escaped, II was
days before the stream went back
to its banks. leaving wreckage that
took long to clear up. For days the
city was thronged with sightseers
from miles around.
The city suffered much financial
damage. The interurban railway,
unable to cross the river on the
Michigan Ave. bridge, laid a TEN.
porary and decidedly shaky line
that passed over the flats along
Race St. and came up the hill on
s. Huron st.