Published once a week in Palmor, Alaska, for tho Mat
anuska Valley Farmers' Co-operating Association, for
tho purpose of giving news of the Association's work,
problems and accomplishments*
IEMPUS FUCI l
Yes people, time does fly* The people who wish for the thing that
they can't have, and refuse to accept the inevitable are holding them
selves back from the ordinary comforts of life. It reminds me of the
little boy, that I once knew, who dug a hole in the back yard and re
fused to come in the house and go to bed that night, because he could
n't bring the hole in with him. We have some peoplo right here in Palm
er who vron't get ready for bed because they canft bring the things that
they wish in the house with them* Tho people of Palmer need water. The
present system is inadequate, but the supply can be supplemented with
other water that is available. The cost would bo very reasonable con
sidering the cost of any other system that could be developed in tho
next few weeks. It seems that a majority of the people want a larger
and moro adequate system. That is their privilege. Wo hold no brief
against that.
But a larger and more adequate system Is not feasible at the present
tine. The people of Palmer neod a temporary system right away. Must
have it soon. Water becomes scarcer all the time and the noed becomes
greater every day. So, v/hat are wo going to do? Arc wo going to bick
er and engage in a name calling contest? Make faces at each other, and
go without water while the mudslingers battle the war out? This is tho
issue,
Tho Co-op has the only system that could be supplemented to provide
enough water until the larger system can be developed. So what are we
going to do? Just cuss tho.Co-op because you don't like them or seno
of its representatives? Is this a sensible way to solve the problem?
Or, aro you going to insist that your representatives on the Palmer
City Council get down to brass tacks and try to solve tho question?
All that the Co-op asks for is a guarantee that they wi11 be reim
bursed for the cost of installing a now line to a creek a half mile a
teve the present sourc.c, that will supply plenty of water for the town
of Falmer for two or three years. As has been explained many times,
the Co-op does not havo funds available to make theso improvements, so
*-ho money will have to be raised by the people who want and need water.
Several months ago, the Co-op warned tho people of Palmer that the
water system would not be adequate for the noeds of tho town for some
time, and suggested that the people finance the improvements that will
be necessary by purchasing general obligation bonds of the Association,
bearing six per cent interest and payable In five years. So far, we
have sold one, one hundred dollar bond designated for this purpose.
If the people of Palmer are not interested, then we have done all we
are going to do. Wc have continued to work on tho proposed temporary
system all during the controversy, but tho time is fast approaching
when someone will have to put seno monoy on tho barrel head.
If the soreheads of Palmer think that they can get water by opposing
every reasonable method of approach, then we will have to suffer wc
suppose. But remember one thing; that is that the farmers of the Mat
anuska Valley who own the Co-op, arc under no obligation to furnish
water for the people who have moved in around the Co-op. The Co-op has
plenty of water for themselves, and if it becomes necessary then thero
will be no surplus water available, and the people will have to face
the problem anyway.
As we have said before why not act like grown up people and try to
find a solution to the problem. All of this furor is hurting the bus
inessmen and homoowners of Palmer a lot more than it is tho Co-op. So,
why punish yourselves? It seems to us, that all that is required, is
to deflate some of the swellod-up politicians, and assist the people
on the Council who arc working for the best interests of the Community,
instead of try to grind some political axes, v/ithout any v/atcr to keep
them cool. C.R.R.