ALASKA HISTORICAL
library
CITY OF PALMER
AND PALMER INDEPENDENT
SCHOOL DISTRICT ELECTIONS
OCT. 1. CO-OP CLUB ROOM
JOMEAM
THE FRONTIERSMAN
PUBLISHED IN THE INTEREST OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
TRY A FRONTIERSMAN
CLASSIFIED AD for ihal item
you may have for sale, rent or
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VOLUME 10. NUMBER 48
PALMER, ALASKA THURSDAY. SEPT. 26, 1957
PRICE TEN CENTS
CITY OFFICIALS
POLLED ON
MANAGER PROPOSAL
^ixy OII1C1Q4S pasx ana presera,
were asked to give reasons why
they believe the city would fare
better under the Council-Mana
ger plan or the present unpaid
Mayor ^Council plan.
The opinion survey regarding
Council-Manager plan, which
was made by the Planning Com
mission, asked the following
questions:
1. Members of the City Plan
ning Commission believe that if
the City of Palmer were to adopt
the Council-Manager Plan there
would not have to be any in
crease in taxes providing there
were not great increase in city
services or additional bonded in
debtedness. Do you agree that
this is possible?
2. In general, the financial
policy of the Council has been to
run the city on general fund
monies derived for the most part
from sales taxes and territorial
refunds, resorting to property
tax levis only for specific im
provements and the retirement
•of bonds issued for those im
provements. Do you believe that
the Council should continue to
adhere to this general policy
under a Council-Manager form of
government?
3. Dollar for dollar of money
to run the city, do you believe
it passible to get more for our
money in quantity and quality of
city services under the Council
Manager Plan than under the
present Council-Mayor Plan?
4. The City of Palmer now has
two employees in the administra
tive office, a city clerk and a sec
retary. Assuming that there is
no appreciable increase in popu
lation, business or sales tax in
come, do you think it would be
necessary for the city to have
these two employees plus a City
Manager? Or do you think the
city administration could be run
with a City Manager and one
other employee?
5. Do you thinK me City of
Dalmer would fare better under
the Council-Manager plan than
under the present unpaid Mayor
(Continued on page 5)
ON. FEVER SPREADS
TO VALLEY REGIONS
Rumors are flying fast and thick
around the valley—some of them
are proving to be true—others
just seem to grow like “Topsy”,
regarding oil filings on Matan
uska Vialley lands.
For sure two oil companies are
in the area buying leases at rates
quoted from $1 to $2 per acre,
with promise of a 1214% royalty
if oil is produced on the land.
A local corporation was form
ed and have filed on same 35
sections (about the size of a
township) running along the Ma
tanuska River area.
Along with the frenzied activ
ities in the valley the past two
weeks A1 Hagen of Palmer is of
fering a locator service. With
several years experience in land
study of the valley area Hagen
is well acquainted with available
lands in this section. Hagen
pointed out that persons inter
ested in making oil and gas leas
es must lease at least 640 acres.
They pay 25 oents per acre plus a
$10 filing fee to the Land Office.
Hagen stated that he will charge
$15 for locating the land for in
terested persons. The filings and
all papers will be in the name of
the individual or individuals fil
ing.*
Si. John's Lutheran Church
Annual Turkey Dinner
Thursday, October 10
5 'til 8 p.m.
Church basement
Adults $2.00 — Children 75c
ATTENTION! ji
CERTAIN GARMENTS
1^ for the 4
L price of I
ON LIKE GARMENTS
Gash and Carry
BROWN’S CLEANERS;
100 Local Youths
To Tour Airbase
On Kiwanis Kids Day
On Saturday, September 28,
100 youths, selected by a drawing
in the fourth, fifth and sixth,
grades of the Palmer schools,
will spend the day on Elmendorf
Airforce Base through the spon
sorship of the Arfchorage and
Palmer Kiwanis Clubs who have
made arrangements for the spe
cial program with officials at the
air base.
The program is being held in
observance of the annual Ki
wanis Kids’ Day held each year
by Kiwanis clubs. Due to wea
ther and street conditions this
year the usual parade followed
by a talent show and movies has
been eliminated and this trip to
the air base has been substituted.
The lucky 100 will assemble at
Central School at 8 a.m. Satur
day and travel to the air base
on buses. They will be accom
panied by a committee of Ki
wanians. Their program will open
at Brook’s Theatre on the base
where films will be shown. The
day-long program will include a
review of the base installations,
new super jets, transporatation
phases helicopters and the youths
will witness a “scramble” which
alerts plane crews.
Experiment Budget
To Be Reduced
By Five Per Cent
Dr. Allan Mick announced this
week that continued operations
at the Petersburg experiment fur
farm will mean a reduction in
work on the Matanuska Experi
ment farm which he anticipates
will run about five per cent
No decision has yet been made
to close the Petersburg experi
ment fur farm, Dr. Mick, direc
tor of the University of Alaska
Agriculture Experiment Stations
reported on his return from a
hearing held in Petersburg last
Monday.
Mick said means are being
worked out w;ith James Leekley,
farm manager to keep the plant
open until the next session of the
Legislature. Recommendations
will be presented to the Univer
sity board of regents at their
meeting in October for a decision
on whether to keep the plant
open.
Regarding the farm Mick said
that research on fur animal nu
trition will continue. He added
that there is no possibility of ex
oanding the plant or staff, but
that a plan will be devised to
carry the work forward at about
the same level as last year.
Governor Mike Stepovich and
Senator James Nolan (De-Wran
gell) attended the hearing. Roth
opposed the closing of the fur
farm,. Also attending the hearing
were Dr. David Lumsden and Dr.
E. C. Elting of the U. S. Depart
ment of Agriculture.
Dr. Mick and the two federal
agriculture men spent several
days in the Palmer area review
ing local work and on Wednes
day left for Homer where they
will conduct a review.
Child Conference
Termed Success
The well child conference held
this week was a great success,
according to the public health
nurse, Mary Rowley.
Miss Rowley urges mothers to
make appointments so more time
may be spent with them and
their babies. The next conferen
ces are slated for October 8 and
October 22. Appointments may
now be made for either of these
conferences which will be held
from 10 - 11:30 a.m. and 1:00
to 3:00 p.m.
;i Wasilla Fail Variety |i
Show
Friday, Sept. 27 — 8 P.M. >,
> Sponsored by Music Dept. J1
> Wasilla High Gym
;! Whitey's Western Swingsters
; Palmer School Schnicklefritzers ;>
(Hilarious type German Band) <
![ And many other fun skits
!; Also first appearance of the <
> Conn Electric Organ in Alaska
|! Adults $1.00 t~ Children 58c |»
; Proceeds go to Music Dept. ;■
COUNCIL
NOTES I
Because a sufficient number
of Councilors were unavailable
for the regular meeting of the
the Common Council on Tuesday
of this week, the meeting was
cancelled. Unavailable were May
or Charles W. Wilson and Coun
selors Jan Koslosky, Charles
Logsdon, and William Zahradni
cek.
This was to have been the final
regular meeting prior to elec
tion next Tuesday. Because there
was not a quorum, all business
to have been brought up at the
meeting will either have to be
held over to the next regular
meeting, or a special meeting will
have to be called.
According to city ordinance in
the absence of the mayor five
councilors constitute a quorum
and no business may be conduct
ed with a lesser number. If the
mayor is present, four council
ors consititute a quorum but all
votes must be in accord.
During the past year there has
been only one full quorum at a
council meeting. At all other
meetings one or two councilors
or the mayor have been absent.
GRAIN BEING STORED
IN NEW ELEVATOR
Over 6,000 bushels of grain
have been dried and stored in the
Co-Op’s new grain elevator, Vir
gil Eckert said this week. He
reported the grain appears to be
of very good quality.
Several acres of grain still re
main to be harvested in the val
ley, he said, and with a weather
break it is expected that it will
be accomplished.
The grain is brought to the
warehouse area where it is
weighed on the new scales locat
ed to the rear of the Building
and Farm Supply building and
then taken to the elevator where
it is first dried before being sent
up into the elevator for storage.
Only one adult attended the
adult clinic held at the health
center last week. Adults were
urged to attend and receive ty
phoid immunization shots.
SEVEN IN RACE
FOR SCHOOL BOARD
Seven Palmer School District
residents have entered the race
for the one five-year term open
on the Palmer Board of Educa
tion. Interested residents have
until 5 p.m. this afternoon to file
for the position. Those who have
filed are Dr. C. C. Bailey, Lewis
Pinkham, Mrs. (Mary E. Remple,
A1 J, DeJulio, Mrs. Faith A.
Krause, James Frey and Ralph
Farnsworth.
Beoause of the interest shown
by so many rsidents each was
fisked to submit a short state
ment defining their reasons for
seeking a position on the Board.
Mrs. Faith Krause, wife of
Clarence Krause, Palmer depot
agent, stated: “I have a parent
layman interest in working with
the school board administration
and P-TA on a long-range pro
gram to see 'that our children
receive a full-day academic and
foundation education in return
for our tax dollars. We are aware
of the problem in Anchorage and
must not wait for such over
crowded and serious consequen
ces to become conscious about
them”.
A1 J. DeJulio, publisher of
The Frontiersman, stated: “I be
lieve parents have an obligation
towards the supervision and bet
terment of education and educa
tional facilities for the youth of
today, who are destined to be
the leaders and promulgators of
our democracy. I shall strive to
do my bit if elected.”
Lewis Pinkham, who with his
wife formerly operated the Faith
Hill Home for children, said:
“Seven yearn ago I came to the
Territory for the purpose of help
ing Alaskan children. Being a
member of the school board pre
sents opportunities of this type.”
Mrs. Mary E. Remple, wife of
Dietrich Remple, stated that “I
believe it my duty, responsibility,
and privilege to know and help
to improve my childrens’ and
others, educational opportuni
ties”.
James Frey of the Butte area
said that he is “keenly interested
in the operation of our schools,
both as a parent and as a taxpay
er. I have lived in the valley the
past 11 years and watched our
school system growing every
year.”
No statement was available
from candidate Ralph Farr**
The P.I.S-D. election will be
(Continued on page 8)
Palmer-Anchorage
Game Here Friday;
Football Field Ready
Work is being completed at the
fairgrounds for the football field
that will be used by the Palmer
Moose and the Anchorage Eagles
when (they meet for their sec
ond game of the season tomor
row. The game will start ait 1:30
p.m. Admission will be $1 for
persons other than students. Stu
dents will obtain special-rate
tickets at school.
The Palmer Moose will be out
for a win to offset their loss to
the neighboring team last week.
Although the final score says
28-6 it doesn’t tell the whole
story. The Palmer gridsters turn
ed in a good game with very
good defensive playing. Their of
fensive play appeared to need
more practice. Coming out of the
first half the Anchorage black
team topped the Palmer youths
by one point, 7-6, but managed
to garner the balance of their
points in the final half, with the
Palmer team unable to again
score. Many of the Palmer play
ers turned in outstanding plays
including Bythel Compton, cap
tain, Toosh Pearson, fullback,
Bert Verral, half back, Vladney
Bledsoe, end and others.
Anchorage this year has two
full squads and has been getting
in some good scrimmage. The
players hlave been split into two
teams, with the Orange team
slated to come to Palmer for to
morrow’s game. If the weather
holds return games are planned
against each team.
Tonight a pep rally will be
held, starting at 7:30, in the Lit
tle League ball park.
The Pioneer Band and the PHS
cheer leaders will be on hand
during Friday’s game to lend
support to their team.
INTERNAL REVENUE
OFFICER HERE FRIDAY
Residents are reminded that
James I. Moore, collection officer
with the Internal Revenue De
partment will be in Palmer
throughout the day tomorrow.
He will be available for confer
ence at the office of U. S. Com
missioner Dorothy B. Saxton.
JUST IN CASE OF SICKNESS
Howard Estelle has the barrel,
Bob Klem has the cabbage—
Who has the time?
VOTERS HEAR OF COUNCIL-MANAGER TYPE GOVERNMENT
a numoer oi interested city
voters heard "George Shannon,
Anchorage city manager, and Mel
Peterson, former Anchorage
Councilor, praise the Council
Manager form of municipal gov
ernment at a public meeting
sponsored by the local Chamber
of Commerce this past Monday
evening.
Shannon pointed out that in
this type of government the
manager is an employee of the
city council, which in its turn
is elected by the people. The
Council legislates . . . makes the
policies . . . determines proce
dures . . . the manager carries
[them out.
“Why a city manager? Why
does any type of business have
a manager?” the Anchorage city
manager asked and then pointed
out, using the local Co-Op as an
example, that boards of directors
(elected • by the memberships)
hire a manager to coordinate
their functions. The same applies
to a city . . . someone responsible
is needed to operate the city.
‘‘Sometimes we live too close
to a thing to recognize, it, think
ing that it is the regular way of
living . . . that we’ve always had
police and fire departments, wat
er truck . . . you have new fire
station, water works, street grad
er .. . the greater the population
the more you will want . . . traf
fic signals, pavement, sewer sys
tem, dog control, garbage collec
tion ...”
Shannon explained that in An
chorage theue is a multi-purpose
crew in the public works depart
ment who are shifted from one
city job to another. He said it
would require 10 to 15 addition
al men if the city maintained a
separate crew for each public
! works. To direct this crew requir
es central responsibility . . . one
man is responsible, the city man
ager. ^
In a small town such as Palmer
the city manager would do sev
eral jobs in one, with his main
job being to coordinate the pro
gram. He again pointed out that
the voters actually run the city
through individuals named to
the Council . . . the Council nam
es the manager to carry out the
policies set.
Mel Peterson said he believed
so strongly in the Council-Man
ager form of municipal govern
ment he found it hard to talk
on the subject without seeming
over enthusiastic.
“I came from a community that
operated under the Commission
plan and by comparison I can
really appreciate the Countil
Manager form of government”,
he said. “The management of a~
city is very complex,” he pointed
out, “the advice of the man-on
the-street shouldn’t be sought . . •
most Councilors are laymen in
handling the many problems.
“Budget preparation is one
small advantage received from a
city manager . . . one man re
sponsible for each phase of work
(as in the Commission form)
leads to corruption. I believe in
the honest efforts 6f city govern
ment in spite of the fact there
is a lot of arguing in city govern
ment . . . there are a lot of pro
blems — it is the same in Palmer
—we have a mixed population
with mixed interests—everyone
wants the same type of govern
ment they had back home where
facilities were taken for grant
ed. In Alaska we pay dearly for
these same facilities. All pressur
es go to the Council, it is diffi
cult for them to bring order out
of chaos. A city manager weighs
the needs and presents the Coun
cil with the actual needs. A more
logical budget is possible than
without a city manager.
“I am very pfoud of Anchor
age’s government and attribute
its success to the Council-Man
ager form of government ... we
have profited from advance plan
ning from professional advice—
money spent today will fit in 20
years from now. Some people say
we can’t afford a city manager’—
I say cities can’t afford to be
without one.”
A question and answer period
followed during which Shannon
pointed to many small towns in
New England which operate with
a city manager, pointing out that
their duties are many .. . man
ager, clerk, personnel, water
works in a small city,
the .city manager must wear
many hats”, Shannon stated.
Further questions brought the
answers that in the Manager
Council form residents are less re
luctant to run for city office—
persons will seek election who
otherwise would not run. It was
.pointed out that profits and los
ses, as compared in other forms
of government, are very evident,
with profits in line with the ser
vices offered with more service
provided for the tax dollar.
It was pointed out that Council
Manager form of government is
spreading, not as a fad, but on
accomplishments of more service;
for less money.
Mayor Charles Wilson stated
he hoped the voters were well
enough acquainted with the pro
posal of the Council-Manager
form of government and that in
spite of the fact there will be
no contest for the city offices,
that they would turn out and ex
press themselves at the polls.
The meeting was opened and
closed by Stewart Durrant,
Chamber president.
John Weisenberger served as
moderator.
CITY VOTERS
TO DECIDE
MANAGER PROPOSAL
Qn, Tuesday, October 1, voters
ill, jure City of Palmer will be ask
ed to participate in the armtiai
general election. Because there
is no contest for the three vac
ancies it would appear that the
three men filing for the respec
tive terms of mayor and council
lors will receive unanimous votes,
r' In answer to several queries
this week, it was ascertained that
although the city ordinance
.makes no provision, Territorial
law provides for “write-in votes”.
No. known campaign is on in the
city to run anyone as a write-in
candidate.
Filing for the mayor’s seat was
Keiihetn Lynn, manager of the
Palmer Piggly-Wiggly store. He
and his family have made their
home in Palmer the past few
years.
The two three-year terms on
the City Council were filed for
by Sam Cotten and Bert Duff,
both long-time valley residents
and family men. Mr. Cotten con
ducts a well drilling business in
Palmer and Mr. Duff is co-own
er of Motor-In Service.
Polls will open at 8 am. in the
Co-Op club room and close at 7
p.m. City election judges will be
Clara Buzby, Kathleen Moore*
and Haleen Ingalls.
Voters will be asked to approve
or disapprove the proposed Coun
cil-Manager form of municipal
government. It is believed that
this proposal will bring the vot
ers out to the polls.
167 Persons Receive
Salk Polio Vaccine
A total of 167 persons received
first, second and third immuniza
tion shots at the polio vaccine
"Clinic held on Friday and Satur
day of last week. Fifty-five of
these persons received first shots;
103 second; and 9 third.
The clinic was made possible
through the National Founda
tion of Infantile Paralysis which
furnished the Salk vaccine. No
charge was made for children or
pregnant women and a $1 fee
was collected from other adults
to handle the cost of supplies.
Immunizations were given by
valley nurses who volunteered
their time. The clerical work was
handled by a group of valley
women who also donated their
time.
EARLY MORNING BLAZE
DESTROYS RURAL HOME
Fire, which started in the
basement and worked it’s way
through th£ house completely
destroyed the dwelling of the
Don Schroeder family early
Monday morning. The Palmer
Volunteer Fire Department was
summoned to the fire but was
unable to save the dwelling be
cause of insufficient water. One
of the trucks was returned to
Palmer for a re-fill but the time
-consumed in the five-mile round
trip was too much. A few pos
sessions of the family were sav
ed. Several neighbors assisted in
fighting the fire.
COMFORTABLE
Steam Heated Rooms
$40 Month
Hyland Hotel
2 blocks from Post Office
TULIP, CROCUS. HYACINTH
BULBS HAVE ARRIVED.
TIME TO PLANT NOW..
MAUD'S FLOWER SHOP
Theatre Bldg. Phone 3601
Free Crab Feed
FRIDAY RIGHT
SEPTEMBER 27
Shamrock Lounge