PALMER, ALASKA Thursday, August 22, 1957
THE
ALASKA HISTORICAL
LIBRARY
_ JUNEAU
frontiersman
PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
VOLUME 10, NUMBERyW^4^*3
PRICE TEN GENTS
MANAGER PUN RECOMMENDED FOR CITY
’ST POTATO YIELD
PREDICTED AT
3600 TONS IN VALLEY
The Alaska Department of
Agriculture has predicted a pota
to crop yield of 5900 tons in Al
aska. Of this figure the Depart
ment pr^icts a yield of 714 tons
per acre for a total of 3600 tons
in the Matanuska Valley-Anchor
age area.
The prediction was reported in
the August 15 copy of Alaska
Market News which points out
that the planted potato acreage of
1042 acres for the Territory is 14
percent less than the 1204 acres
planted in 1956 and almost iden
tical with that of 1955. Dry con
ditions had caused potato grow
ers to ponder when asked about
'-this year’s yields for this area, it
was reported. Growers in the
Tanana Valley say that yields
will definitely be on the low side
due to lack of rainfall during the
entire growing season. Only
those fields in the low lying areas
are expected to yield near nor
mal. The Department’s prediction
in the Tanana area is for a yield
of four-plus tons per acre which
totals around 2200 tons. Kenai
area yields of five tons per acre
would total 100 tons. Thus, the
report shows, the potato produc
tion, outlook for the 1957 crop
totals 5900 tons compared to 7382
tons for 1956 and 5055 tons for
1955.
The 7382 tons of potatoes pro
duced for 1956 has filled the mar
ket demand 100 percent, J;he re
port states, with almost no hold
over. Therefore, if the forecast of
5900 tons for 1957 is near right,
continued good prices should be
obtained for all the crop.
Approximately 364 acres of po
tatoes were planted this year in
the Matanuska Valley; 119 acres
in the Anchorage area; 540 in the
Tanana Valley; and 20 in the
Kenai area.
Lettuce planting increased from
(Continued on page 5)
PALMER 5UHUULS
OPEN ON SEPT. 3
School sessions will resume for
all students of the Palmer area
at 9 a.m. on September 3,-it was
announced this week by William
T. Zahradnicek, school superin
tendent.
Parents are reminded that all
students entering Palmer sch
■oels for the first time must have
a birth certificate, or other
means of birthdate proof.
Registration dates for students
entering all Palmer schools are
^Monday and Tuesday, August
26 and 27. Pupils entering either
Swanson or Central school are
to register at Central school be
tween the hours of 9 a.m. and
4 p.m. on either date. High sch
ool students are to register at
the high school between the
same hours on the same dates.
COMFORTABLE
Steam Heated Rooms
Hyland Hotel
2 blocks from Post Office
START GROOMING YOUR
FLOWERS NOW for the
Malanuska Valley Fair!!
Telegraph Delivery Service
MAUD'S FLOWER SHOP
Theatre Bldg. Phone 3601
BROWN’S SHOP
Will be dosed
On Saturdays
AH During Hunting
Season.
Surplus Gqrden
Crops, and Meat
Accepted at Hospital
With the hunting and can
ning seasons in full swing,
many homemakers will find
they “just haven’t room to put
all this meat and these vege
tables in the freezer”. It' has
been suggested that surplus
meat and vegetables be donat
ed to the local hospital. Any
“extra” food will be welcom
ed by the hospital.
COURT ORDERS
DELINQUENT TAX
ROLLS BE SOLD
Delinquent tax rolls for the
City of Palmer and the Palmer
School District were ordered sold
during Court held on Friday,
August 16. Judge J. L. McCarrey
presided over the Third District
Court hearing on the matter of
the delinquent tax rolls and ord
ered the sale of both rolls.
This means, said William
Wakeland, tax assessor-collector,
that the properties still delin
quent will again be advertised
and then sold at public auction,
probably this fall.
The assessor pointed out that
further costs may be avoided by
payment in full this week.
Also, he said,# that this is the
first sale ordered for this taxing
district since its inception in 1949,
and that it should finally prove
to the few remaining die-hards
that taxes are here to stay. Next
year 1957 delinquent real pro
perty will be foreclosed under
the new law Wakeland added.
Queen Contestants
Have Busy Program
Seven young women of the
/alley area are busier than the
proverbial bee — and will con
tinue to be until after Septem
jber 2, the final day of the 1957
Valley Fair.
These young women are queen
candidates and as the opening
day of the fair nears they find
themselves with less and less
free time. The girls have appear
ed on a number of television and
radio programs and are schedul
ed for as many more. Radio and
television stations have offered
considerable free time to the fair
association, including the 4:15
p.m. news spot on radio station
KENI, Hostess House on TV
Channel 11, American Legend
at 7 p.m. on Channel 2, and oth
ers. Last night the queen con
testants, James Hurley, fair host,
Howard McCallister, fair promo
tion manager, and two members
of the NCCO USO Footlighters
who will be appearing at the
fair, were presented on Channel
2. Tonight on Channel 11 Stew
art Durrant, Co-Op manager and
a member of the fair board of
directors, will be interviewed.
Lew Hanks, Extension agent,
Mrs. Keith Lovejoy, ghairman
of childrens’ events, and Mrs.
James Hurley have appeared on
programs promoting the many
varied events being planned for
the fair.
The girls’ first TV appearance
was last Friday when they ap
peared on Hostess House and
were interviewed by Norma
■Goodman. That afternoon Bill
Stewart interviewed the girls on
his 4:15 KENI radio program and
that evening the girls were
guests at the Ritz Venice and
appeared on the television pro
(Continued on page 8)
FLU VACCINE
NOT YET AVAILABLE
Dr. A. J. Colberg, city health
officer, said this week that in
quiries have started regarding in
fluenza vaccine. He said that lo
cal drug stores plan to stock the
vaccine as soon as it is available
from the Stateside laboratories
and that residents desiring the
immunization shouid contact
their family physicians for ad
ministration.
FAIR TIME NEAR,
MANAGER REMINDS
FARM EXHIBITORS
Seven more days to prepare
your entries for the Fair, said
M. D. Snodgrass, agriculture
manager. The show window for
Alaska farmers will soon be op
en and products from their farms
will be shown.
Manager Snodgrass pointed out
that there are many prizes well
worth while to exhibitors. Pop
ular departments include the
Big Cabbage; the special potato
exhibit of 24 to a tray; the indi
vidual farm exhibits with priz
es of $50, $37.50; $25; $15 and $10
being offered.
In Department C (livestock)
prize of $25 $15 and $10 are be
ing offered in prize money for
dairy cattle; four prizes ranging
from $25 down to $10 are offer
ed for beef cattle. Prize winning
swine will win $20, $15, and $10
prizes, with special prizes for
youngsters under 18 years of age.
Cash prizes of $25, $20 and $15
will be awarded for mare and
foal.
All animals must be in good
show condition and readily
“handled in parade or show ring,
Mr. Snodgrass reminded exhib
itors.
Some especially ^ine grain,
forage and vegetable crops are
in the fields this year, the agri
culture manager pointed out. “A
day spent in gathering and pre
paring dispalys for the Fair will
well repay any farmer for the
time spent in making up an in
dividual farm display. This is
your Fair”, he said.
Cancer Fund Nears
$30C Mark in
First Two Weeks
The local Cancer fund cam
paign has brought in a total of
$230 during the first two weeks
of August, according to Mrs.
Stewart Durrant, local cam
paign chairman.
“The community is responding
generously, as usual,” states Mrs.
Durrant, “and if funds continue
to come in at the present rate
we should equal, if not surpass,
the total of $738 which we rais
ed in 1956.”
Through an error, it was re
ported last week that $40 was
sent by the Palmer Unit for use
in patient asisstance and educa
tional purposes. This should have
read $400, and was the largest
portion of the total given by lo
cal residents. The remainder of
the $738 was used largely for re
search purposes, in the Society’s
constant effort to find better
treatment and cure for the dis
ease.
We are anxious that the peo
ple of our community realize that
they may obtain help from the
Cancer Society,” Mrs. Durrant
added. “Some funds are available
for certain types of treatment,
and persons needing such help
are urged to get in touch as
promptly as possible with Mrs.
local Unit Chairman of the Am
erican Cancer Society.
The local chairman is also
able to help plan informative
C. A. Brewer of Palmer, who is
also able to help plan informative
programs for groups. wishing to
know more about cancer detec
tion and progress in reseach, ac
cording to Mrs. Durrant, and she
can obtain slides or moving pic
tures on the subject. Emphasis
is placed on early detection and
treatment, which has helped this
past year to increase the number
of cured cancer cases from one
out of four to one in three.
Local donations may be made
by addressing envelopes to CAN
CER, PALMER, ALASKA.
Lila Madden has been named
housekeeper at the Valley Pres
byterian Hospital, replacing
Mary Liebing who recently re
signed.
SPECIAL MEETING
FOR CITY-MANAGER
PETITION ACTION
A special meeting of the Pal
mer City Council has been
called for tomorrow after
noon at 2 p.m. at which time
the council will take action on
a petition to change the city
government from mayor
council form to mayor-council
city manager form. The neces
sary number of signatures
have been secured and the pe
tition will be presented to the
council during the meeting.
EUGENE REID NAMED
MTA PRESIDENT;
NEW POLICIES SET
Eugene Reid was named
president of the Matanuska
Telephone Association at a
Board of Directors’ meeting held
last Thursday. R. J. Heddles
was named to serve as vice presi
dent; George Crowther as secre
tary-treasurer; and Virgil Eck
ert and Einar Huseby as direc
tors.
A policy regarding the refund
ing of the $40 equity has been
set by the directors. The equity
money will be refunded to per
sons withdrawing from the As
sociation when the following
conditions are met:
That a period of 60 days shall
have elapsed after service is
terminated, and that the Asso
ciation shall deduct from the
amount of such equity fee the
amount of any debts owing from
the member to the Association.
The directors also set forth a
policy of refunding the $10
membership fee to persons with
drawing from the Association
when the following conditions
are met:
Surrender of the Membership
Certificate. Another occupant of
the same location has paid the
Membership fee. That a period
of 60 days shall have elapsed
after service is terminated and
that the Association shall deduct
from the amount of such mem
bership fee the amount of any
debts owing from the member to
the Association. That any mem
ber terminating membership
would be requested to pay an
installation fee of $7.50 if ter
mination is ordered prior to one
year’s service.
The new board of directors
was named by the Association at
the annual membership meeting
held August 3. Eugene Reed will
serve a three year term; Virgil
Eckert and George Crowther
two year terms; and Einar Huse
by' and R. J. Heddles one year
terms.
Three Days of Rodeo
Planned al Fair
Three days of rodeo activities
will be climaxed at the 17th an
nual Matanuska Valley Fair by
a “cowboy’s dance” on the final
night of the four-day Fair. The
dance, to be held by the Alaska
Amateur Cowboy Rodeo Asso
ciation, will be held in the Cen
tral School in Palmer and there
will be both popular and square
dances called.
The three days of rodeo events
will mark the First Annual Al
aska Rodeo ■ Championship.
Points built up during the three
days in popular rodeo events,
will determine the champions.
Valuable trophies have been se
cured and will be awarded to the
best riders, ropers, bronc-bust
ers, bull-doggers, and other
event winners.
Riders will be appearing from
all over Alaska, many of whom
have participated in large rodeos
in the States. Special stock is
being imported to Alaska for
the big rodeo and many thrills,
spills, and exciting events are in
store for fair-goers this year dur
ing the rodeo.
Fair Board
Finalizing Plans
Members of the Matanuska
Valley Fair board of directors
held their final regular meeting
before the 1957 Fair on Monday
of this week.
It was announced at the meet
ing that the Wasilla Grange and
Wasilla Library Association have
been awarded the Fair kitchen
concession and the two groups
will operate the concession
throughout the four-day fair,
featuring valley produce din
ners.
Several buses will be operating
between Anchorage-Palmer-Was
illa throughout the Fair. In ad
dition The Alaska Railroad will
run a special train to and from
the Fair on Sunday.
Concession space throughout
the grounds is nearly gone.
Anyone desiring space is urged
to contact M. D. Snodgrass im
mediately.
A number of prizes have been
received to date from Anchor
age and Palmer merchants which
will be used as gate prizes dur
ing Hie fair.
Frances Hulbert, acting Exten
sion agent, is completing the 4-H j
program.
Gasoline Dispensing
Subject of Meeting
A special meeting of the Pal
mer City Council was called for
Tuesday night to discuss further
the regulations governing the
dispensing of gasoline. Although
all service stations were repre
sented at the meeting only two
councilmen and the mayor were
present and a formal meeting
could not be held.
However the subject was again
discussed at length by the ser
vice station representatives and
the city officials present.
Mayor Wilson pointed out that
the city’s fire ordinance, adopt
ed March 8, 1955, states that gas
oline sales must be made on
private property. The new ter
ritorial fire code reads about the
same with a slight modification.
The service station men point
ed out that other cities have the
same conditions—that some sta
tions in Anchorage dispense
right from the sidewalk, after
having received *a special permit
from the city.
A letter is being prepared to
day that will be sent to all gar
age and service stations in the
city, quoting the section of the
city fire ordinance which per
tains to “all parts of the motor
vehicle being on private proper
ty” while being serviced with
gasoline. Also sections that ex
plain proceedure to be followed
by the fire chief and how garage
and service station owners may
appeal such rulings. The letter
is to state that after September
11 the ordoinance shall be strict
ly enforced.
The next regular city council
meeting will be on Tuesday,
August 27. Garage and service
station owners plan to appear at
the meeting tp again discuss their
problem.
CORONATION BALL
SATURDAY, AUGUST 31
MAKE APPOINTMENTS
EARLY
VALLEY BEAUTY SHOP
LAVONNE JOHNSON
Phone 2041
MAYOR POINTS OUT
ADVANTAGES AT
CHAMBER MEETING
Mayor Charles W. Wilson was
guest speaker at the August 21
meeting of the Matanuska Val
ley Chamber of Commerce. His
j topic was based on Council
Manager form of municipal
government.
Mayor Wilson stated that for a
long time he has given much
thought to what is wrong with
the present form of city govern
ment. He pointed out that he is
the fourth elected mayor and
the fifth to serve in that capac
ity. He said he had come to the
conclusion that the mayor does
not have enough authority in
vested in him in the present
type of government to enable
proper city government. He
pointed out that the city council
has power only when in session,
which amounts to four or five
hours twice each month.
“The Mayor is responsible for
the enforcement of city ordin
ances and laws of the Territory.
He appoints city employees—the
city council must confirm. The
mayor doesn’t have the author
ity to change the personnel with
out city council action,” he point
ed out.
According to the National
Municipal League, which has
prepared booklets on Forms of
Municipal Government and how
they have worked, there are four
types of government. The Weak
Mayor-Council Form (as follow
ied in Palmer). The Weak May
or-Council form has shown it
self to be a thoroughly inade
quate type of municipal struc
ture, the survey shows. In re
cent years this form has been
discarded by city after city ana
virtually no new adoptions are
being recorded. The weak may
or-council plan commonly has
these characteristics: a city coun
cil with committee delving into
details; an elected mayor; sep
arate department heads; admin
istrative boards elected or ap
pointed for overlapping terms.
Mayor Wilson pointed out that
the weak mayor-council form of
government has been found unde
sirable because it does not provide
successfully for competent de
partment heads or other person
nel, lacks a unifying, responsible,
single executive head.
The Commission form of gov
ernment is little if any more suc
cessful than the weak mayor
form, the survey shows. The ty
pical Commission plan has five
commissioners elected at large
to serve as the legislative body,
each commissioner heading an
administrative department. While
the plan sounds simple, the re
port shows it has been found to
have most of the defects of the
weak mayor-council form and
some others peculiar to itself.
The strong mayor-council form
has been more successful than
(Continued from page 1)
ATTENTION!
CERTAIN GARMENTS
for the
price of
ON LIKE GARMENTS
Cash and Carry
BROWN’S CLEANERS
2
1
i*********-X-****>X-******-X
^t-**********************************************^
Caterpillar Work
See BILL NELSON or BOB “LITTLE RED" POWERS
for D-8 (we have 2) "Cat" work, special
izing in land clearing and road building. We
also have giant breaker disc, scarifier and
angle blade.
WILL DO GOOD WORK AT REASONABLE RATES
Phone FR-3423
t**************-*-**^****************************i