Palmer. Ala ska____ CARL RASt/ftJSSEN, 'Editor
Published every Friday at Palmer, Alaska, for the Matanuska Valle.
Farmers Cooperating Association, for the purpose of giving new of ’"he
Association’s work, problems,accomplishments and new of general interest
Subscription by mail .$1,75 yearly, Box '4>1«Q0, Single copy 10^
WE PREFER ALASKA
A certain radio program that we hear frequently, on a local station,
begins with an announcement that due to the fact that the children of
Alaska miss many of the advantages that children have in the States,
that it is necessary to supplement a protective program suitable to
this section, in order to maintain their health and comfort. We do net
doubt that there are some things that our children lack and we arjre
cinte the help that is being given to them, but a thought comes to us
about the advantages and disadvantages of being raised in Alaska.
Now having been raised in several of the States and having observed
the mar. er in which children are being educated and prepared for life
out there, we can't see that there is much that we or others received
that was so much better than it i3 here.
Sure there were better school buildings, larger hospitals, much larg or
and more attractive churches, bigger public functions and perhaps mor
attractive theatres and night clubs, but there are lots more people t >
and every time some important event is held there are thousands tl ere
pushing, shoving, and trying to force themselves ahead the rest of the
crowd.
Ther< wcs a greater variety of food and clothing available to the
public than there was here, before the war, but the average person
usually didn't have any more to eat or more warm substantial clot! *ng
than we do here. As a matter of fact, millions of people were poorly
fed and did not have sufficient clothing or decent shelter for a 1 mg
period of time and the children suffered too.
The standard of living in the Share Cropper sections and the sin ns
of the erent industrial cities were far below the standard of the • ver
ege family in Alaska, and the children share this conditioh too. I any
of the middle class people were existing on sub-standard levels, and
their children shared their fate. So all in all the picture isn't too
pretty out there either.
From a standpoint of education, physical condition, and the ability
to take care of themselves, we believe that the children who ore raised
in Alaska are just as capable as any people on earth. In fact, wo be
lieve that the averate Alaskan Is better equipped to take care of them
selves In a greater number of situations than most people.
Our \ oys and girls learn to do the more important things necessary to
sustal life and to adapt themselves to the circumstances that surround
them t' an most people because there isn't any way to 0et out of it.
There are few servants or masters in Alaska. The rich have very few
privileges that the man with lessor possessions doesn't have, and there
are few palaces and few slums up here.
Our professional men and women are usually of a superior type, be
cause they know that they must live and work under conditions that are
more difficult than they are in the states, but they come and-give
their services gladly, so we have really are to be envied by this con
dition. All in All we would prefer Alaska.