DOROTHY M. BELL,Editor
PALMER, ALASKA
Published every Friday at Palmer, Alaska, for the Matanuska Valley
Farmers^® Cooperating Association 'for :the ^ptorpose of giving news of the
Association's work, problem^, 'and accomplishments, _
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INDIAN CLAIMS TO BE HEARD IN
SEATTLE NOVEMBER 15.
Organizations from S.E. Alaska
and other parts of the Territory
have been filing protests against
the proposed Indian reservations to
be set up in S.E. Alaska»-that is
sh uld the claims as filed be de
clared valid. The hearings on the
claims will open in Seattle on
November 15. Protects have been
sent in from commercial,fishing,
mining and labor organizations all
over the Territory. Official and
unofficial organizations plan to
send representatives to these ses
sions. The fishing Industries are
particularly concerned since these
claims cover much of the best
salmon fishing sites.
The Koward-Wheeler Act does
authorize the Secretary of t‘he
Interior to set up reservations in
Alaska for the Indians. Delegate
Anthony J. Dimond has stated that
the Indians can bring suit in Court
cf Claims to recover compensation
of any property rights of which
they have been deprived unjustly.
This law, Dimcnd says, was intended
to allow Indians to bring suit in
Court for just claims and' possibly
set up small reservations around
Indian Villages for the protection
of local residents. Evidently.then,
the law has been stretched the
limit when claims becin to take- in
cities like Ketchikan and Juneau.
When Alaska was bought from Russiaj
in 1867 for $7,200,000.00 no though
was given to Indian claims or right
to any of the territory at that
time. In fact, how much of the U.S
was bought from the Indians who
certainly had original rights to it
Now when valuable industries have
been developed much concern over
the rights of the aborigines seems
to have developed. The loss of'
$50,000,000. in Industries is some
thing for Alaskans to worry about.
The issue is really of great import
ance not only to S.E. Alaska but to
the whole Territory and.will pro
bably hold the interest of the
people second only to a President
ial Election.
Perhaps some may wish to give
Alaska back to the Indians and
others may join them when the cold 1
north wind blows,but generally we
like it better .than we admit.
OPA NEWS
To the Valley Settler,
On November 7, the Office of Price
Administration announced the specific
ceiling prices which have been set
on beef at retail. This was no rid
den move as several studies of too
meat; question have been made, and
proposed prices were sent out for
the meat dealers to study end nr ke
recommendations to the OPA Office at
Juneau.
Some 2000 items of canned goods end
household supplies are now under
specific ceiling prices, known r
MPR 288. Beef at retail is the irst
fresh meat to come under MPR 28f ex
cept turkey which has been under
specifics fbr many months.
Based _bn . inf ormation supplied by the
wholesale and retail trade, trms
portation costs, and merchandising
methods in each town made by the
Price Division before these prices
were .recommended, they are believed
to be.fair and equitable.
It, is believed that the meat dealers
will give fullest cooperation just
as the grocers throughout the Ter
ritory co-operated as specific ceil
ings were established on common?ties
they sell.
(Announcement made by Alaska D3’ ctor
of Office of. Price Administrate
Mildred Herman.)
5 LOSS BY FIRE OF NATURAL RESOURCES
FOR 1944—LOWEST ON RECORD
p Losses of Alaska's natural re
sources through forest fires ir
1944 was the lowest in 30 year.0,
according to.W.J, McDonald, Se ‘or
Forester, U.S, General Lend Office,
in charge of the Alaska Fire Con
trol Service,
Jessen's Weekly is now being de
livered to Alaskan towns via the
Alaska.Airlines, This means that
Anchorage subscribers will get thei
papers the same day .as it is pub
lished..
Pan American World Airways may^be
delivering fresh eggs and vegetable*
to Alaska In the not too distant
futurcr-the year around.