Published once a week in Palmer, Alaska, for the
Matanuska Valley Farmers' Co-operating association,
-for the purpose of giving news of the Association’s
work, problems and accomplishments.
INCORPORA! ION,WHAl FOR?
The position of the management of the Co-operative has been made clear on the matt
er of Incorporation. 7/e have been willing to talk thd matter over at any time, and,
as we have said before, regardless of the outcome of the election, we will hold no
hard feelings against anyone, whether wo agree with them or not. Whatever the de
cision is, we will regard it as the will of the people, and work for the welfare of
the community*
However, there have been some queer goings-on on the part of the people called the
.steering committee. !First they kept everything under cover until they wished to make
their plans known. The Chamber of Commerce became the sounding board for a lot of
their propaganda, although the Chamber never endorsed the idea of incorporation at
any time. The writer was refused any information until the hearing was held in the
District Court. This proceedure was certainly unethical even if it v/as legal* Just
why was everythihg kept so quiet if it is such a good thing for the Community?
We understand that some of our citizens, who are fed by the U.S. payroll, question
ed the right of the Co-op to express an opinion on the subject. Of course that may
have been prompted by an overdose of the liquid that cheers, but it does not add any
thing to the conversation except small talk. Just why the Co-op should not be allow
ed to enter into the issues of the campaign, is something that only they can explain.
For the benefit of anyone who can’t understand why the Co-op should be concerned,
we would like to state that we are concerned by several things. First, the matter of
taxes. We have grave reasons to doubt that ten mills will be anywhere, enough, so
another ten mills can be placed on our property. This will double the tax bill you
are nov/ paying. Then, is any public improvements are m^de, it will either require a
bond issue or a sales tax. the ability to issue bonds is limited, and enough
bonds could not be issued to make any major improvements, the sales tax would have to
be installed. This would be an indirect tax, but it would mean that your taxes
would probably be about throe times what they are now.
Sven the wage earner would be seriously affected. If he rents a house, the rent
would have to be raised or the owner suffer the loss of revenue through increased
rent. His food'would cost more on account of the sales tax and the increased cost of
doing business. It would even affect his earnings because his employer would have
increased cost of doing business, but no more money to meet this cost. Consequently
there would be less money to meet payrolls. Even if you do not ov/n property, it
would hit you, too.
agriculture is the backbone of the economy of Palmer as well as the rest of the
Matanuska Valley, and it will take a much larger amount of money to meet the costs
of processing and selling the farmers1 products. 'Therefore the farmer would not
have money to spend. This in turn, would seriously affect the economy of the town
.os Palmer. So, in conclusion, we again say that the benefits would not be worth the
costs. It would impose a heavier - tax burden on a growing community that is just
getting a good start, and would defeat the purposes for which it is intended. Let’s
wait until we. are ready! . •
C.R.R*
At the regular meeting of the Homemaker fe
Council held in the Extension Craft Room
on Monday, April 2nd*, the council members
voted to sponsor a 4-H Rally during the
month of May, for 4-H Leaders, 4-H Club
members and members of the Homemaker^
Council* Any eligible child interested in
4-H work is invited to attend* The Rally
will be given for the -purpose of showing
that council members are willing to lend
their support, in every way possible, to
further 4~H Club work in the Valley#
U&y 3rd# was the date set for a tea, to
be given in the basement of the United
Protestant Church# sponsored by the home
maker clubs# Each member pledged herself
to bring a guest, especially if they know
someone who is new in the Valley# L sug
guested theme for the Tea is "Know your
neighbori
Miss Florence Eby appeared before the
council to discuss the feasibility of or
ganizing a farmers' market in Palmer# This
proposed plan was favorably received by
continued on page 4