FEBRUARY 28
DEADLINE DATE
FOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION
The Frontiersman
PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
TRY A FRONTIERSMAN
CLASSIFIED AD for that
| item you may have for sale.
! rent or lease.
VOLUME 9. NUMBER 18
PALMER. ALASKA.
THURS
FEBRUARY 28, 1956
PRICE TEN CENTS
Co-Op Retires 1948
Equity Certificates
x or the tourth time during the
past year the Matanuska Valley
Farmers Cooperating Association
plans to retire certificates of
equity, according to an announ
cement made this week by Stew
art Durrant, Co-Op general man
ager. The decision was made at
a recent meeting of the Associa
tion’s board of directors and will
mean the payments of approxi
mately $11,000 to Co-Op mem
bers.
Certificates of equity for 1948
will be retired, beginning March
1, Durrant stated, to the mem
bers. During the annual member
ship meeting certificates issued
in 1945 were voted for retire
ment; since then 1946 and 1947
certificates have been retired
and next month the 1948 certifi
cates may be turned in.
Certificates of equity, earned
-each year by Co-Op members,
are redeemable in 10 years. This
recent retirement is three years
earlier than required.
Dividends are declared an
nually, at membership meetings,
on earnings which are pro-rated
back according to patronage of
members.
MATANUSKA HOTEL
BEING RENOVATED
BY NEW OWNERS
Renovation work at the Mat
anuska Hotel is progressing very
well, according to Mr. and Mrs.
Charles Shields, new owners
managers of the local hotel.
“We plan a complete renova
tion in the hotel”, Shields said
toda(y. “This includes cleaning
and painting each and every
room—new drapes for the rooms
and lobby—new carpeting for the
stairs and hall—in fact—every
thing is going to be cleaned up
and put in excellent conditio |”,
he said. He pointed out that the
work will take a little while,
however, half of the lobby has
already ben painted and the
Shields were leaving for Anchor
age this morning to select materi
al for the new drapes.
The Hotel Coffee Shop, which
is being operated by Mr. and
Mrs. Harold Tyler, was closed two
days last week while a general
over-all cleaning was completed
and is now open for business.
Future plans, Shield said, in
clude moving the bar downstairs
and putting a dining room into
the section now occupied by the
VEH3CLE OWNERS
REMINDED OF
FEB. 28 DEADLINE
Vehicle owners were today re
minded that February 28—next
Tuesday—is the deadline for the
purchase of 1956 car licenses. The
license plates must be affixed to
all vehicles being driven any
where in Alaska by that time.
Violators will be prosecuted, it
was stated. Vehicle plates may be
secured at the office of the U. S.
Commissioner in the Theatre
building.
TEACHERS CANCELL
VARIETY SHOW
The variety show, “Faculty
frolics”, to have been present
ed by the Palmer teachers this
Saturday evening, has been
eancelled due to conflicting ac
ivities. Persons who have al
eady purchased tickets for
he show are requested to turn
them in to any teacher for ro
und.
Telephone System
Suffers 25% Loss
In Wind Storm
An emergency repair crew is
working as fast as time and ma
terials will permit on damages
caused the Matanuska Telephone
Association system during the
storm which hit Palmer Saturday
morning and continued until
Monday night.
Robert Partridge, MTA man
ager, said today the system suf
fered approximately 25 percent
loss. The new cables held up well
but service drops from the cable
to the homes were snapped. "We
were delayed in our repair work
by lack-of wire”, Cartridge said.
I "We were unable to get an em
ergency supply from Civil De
fense and will have to use what
we can find.”
Good news from MTA this
week was the announcement that
forced-account funds for home
installations were approved Feb
ruary 17 and that as soon as ma
terials arrive MTA will begin the
installation of new telephone in
struments.
How"ver, Partridge pointed
out, the new phones will go into
members homes who have paid
all of their equity, only. Users
in the city will be serviced first,
because of location. Those mem
bers who have not yet completed
equity payments will not receive
new instruments at this time, he
said. When lines are installed in
the rural areas, phones will be
installed on the same basis—
those who have paid up their
equity will be serviced first.
Partridge also announced that
after bids go out equity certifi
cates and membership certificates
will be issued. Those who have
paid only their membership fees
will receive their membership
certificates but not equity cer
tificates. To avoid delays, Par
tridge urged users to complete
their equity payments as soon as
possible.
HEALTH OFFICER
TO MAKE INSPECTIONS
The City Board of Health an
nounced today that beginning
Monday the City Health Officer
will begin physical inspection of
all food handlers establishments
in the City.
H EA R THE
Kitchen Band!
Appearing at
GREEN ACRES
SATURDAY NIGHT, FEBRUARY 25
11:30 P.M.
Fun and Entertainment for All
***A<>** *****^***********i*l*r%%yyMVVyVVMVVVyYWVVVV>AAAAAAAA/'l
HARLOW J. HODGSON
H. J. HODGSON FAMILY
TO LEAVE FOR IOWA MARCH I
!
Dr. H. J. Hodgson of the Al
aska Agriculture Experiment
Station will leave Alaska on
March 1, according to Director
Don Irwin.
The Hodgsons have lived in'the
Palmer community since 1948,
when they came to the Territory
from Georgia. Ruth Hodgson has
been active in Eastern Star and
Homemakers clubs and served as
secretary at Central School for
two years.
Dr. Hodgson has served as sec
retary, vice-president and presi
dent of Palmer’s Kiwanis Club.
Last year he served as lieuten
ant governor of the Alaska-Yu
kon Division International. He
was also president of the Valley
Hospital Association board of di
rectors in 1954 and before that
was chairman of the building
committee during the fund rais
ing and construction of the new
hospital. The Hodgsons’ three
children, 'Mark, Valerie and Dav
id, were all born in Palmer.
Dr. Hodgson joined the Experi
ment Station to organize and di
rect agronomy research. “His
leadership and scientific experi
ence will be greatly missed”,
commented Director Irwin. “Dur
ing the past eight years Hodgson
has released five new crop vari
eties beginning with Edda barley
and Golden Rain oats which were
developed under his direction.
Alaskland Red clover was put out
in 1953. Engmo timothy will be
ready in 1957. Gasser wheat was
developed and released by his de
partment in 1955”, said Irwin.
“During the past two years the
station work on winter hardiness
of alfalfa has, under Hodgson’s
supervision, attracted national at
tention. His contributions in im
proving forage and feed growing
have helped make dairying a
profitable industry in Alaska.”
Dr. Hodgson nas authored or
co-authored some 20 publications,
mostly dealing with feed and for
age crops in Alaska. He is recog
nized as an authority on subarc
tic agriculture. His scientific ar
ticles have been distributed thr
oughout the United States, West
ern Canada and have been re
quested by rural people in Ice
land and Scandanavia. Among
his technical articles are “Effect
of Heat and Acid Scarification on
Germination of Bahia Grass”;
“Cold Resistance in Alfalfa at
Two Diverse Latitudes”; “Hard
ening Behavior of Sweetclover”;
and “Cytology and Morphology of
Putative XAgroelymus and its
Presumed Parents”. Publications
much in demand by Alaska farm
ers and gardeners are “Recom
mended Crop Varieties for Alas
ka”; “Better Forage for Alaska”;
“Fertilizers for Alaska”; “Alask
land Red Clover”; “Weeds in Al
aska”; and “Your Lawn”. Other
articles of scientific and general
interest are “Farming in Alaska”,
(Continued on page 8)
CONSTITUTION INSERT
v Through the courtesy of
James Hurley, delegate to the
; Constitutional Convention, an
!> insert in which the entire Con
i' stitution is reproduced is en
I eluded in all local subscribers
;! copies of this week’s issue of
j\ The Frontiersman. The section
was printed by the Fairbanks
!; Daily New-s-Miner and made
!; available through the Alaska
l Statehood Committee.
Alaska Constitution
Reviewed by Panel
A large number of Palmer area
residents turned out Tuesday
night to hear the first public dis
cussion in the area of the Alaska
Constitution which was present
ed by the Palmer Parent-Teach
er Association, February 21.
James Hurley, delegate from the
Palmer-Wasilla-Talkeetna Dis
trict was present and added in
formation to that offered by a
panel of four Palmer residents.
The discussion was opened by
Dorothy B. Saxton who acted as
moderator for the panel. The first
presentation, Article 1, Declara
tion of Rights, was read and dis
cussed fully by Attorney John
Shaw, following which Lucille
Mick presented Article 2, The
Legislature. In bringing out
points of this part of the Con
stitution ,Mrs. Mick pointed out
that Alaska’s Constitution is lim
ited by the U. S. Constitution,
and that Alaska’s Legislature is
in turn limited by the Alaska
Constitution. She also pointed out
that Section 8 provides for the
Legislature to convene each year,
instead of the every tw'o year
schedule now in effect.
Richard Jones reported on Ar
ticle 3, The Executive, outlining
the Article by touching briefly
on each Section. Article 4, The
Judiciary was reported by Attor
ney Shaw; Suffrage and Elec
tions by James Wilson, who also
presented Natural Resources.
Legislative Apportionment was
(Continued on page 4)
WEASELS USED
TO HAUL MILK
DURING WIND STORM
Among the many Valley resi
dents who practiced the good
neighbor policy during the recent
wind storm were A. L. Smith, j
Bob Hardisty, Bob Bouwens, John j
Gore, and Don Cook who operat- !
ed weasles on the blocked farm
roads, checking on the health of
th eisolated farm families, and
hauling milk into the Co-Op
creamery. Stewart Durrant, Co
Op general manager said this
week that the Association was
very grateful to the men who
helped in this manner.
Specialists to Attend
2nd Annual Farm Forum
MINSTREL SHOW
DATES ARE CHANGED
Members of the Palmer Ki
.vanis Minstrel Show commit
ee announced this week that
lates for the club’s annual
presentation have been chang
ed. The minstrel show will
row be presented on Friday
ind Saturday nights, April 6
ind 7. Rehrearsals are in full
swing and the show looks like
t is shaping up into one of the
irganization’s best presenta
ions.
A.S.C. COMMITTEE
TO MEET IN PALMER
EARLY NEXT MONTH
The Alaska Agricultural Stab
ilization and Conservation (ASC)
committee will meet March 5 in
Palmer to discuss recommenda
tions for the 1957 agricultural
conservation program, ASC
Chairman Philip R. Johnson of
Fairbanks announced.
Homer, Palmer, and Fairbanks
i county ASC committeemen and
i representatives of federal and
! territorial agricultural agencies
| The ASC members are John Nash
i are invited to attend the meeting,
of Palmer, Vernon Mutch of An
chor Point, and Johnson.
A special meeting for all farm
ers is being called fo. Sunday
evening, March 4 in the high
school cafeteria at which time
Ernest Gambell of the Agricul
tural Conservation Program Ser
vice in Washington D. C. and Roy
Jordre also of Washington will
be present to the discuss Conser
vation payments program. The
two visitors plan to be present
it the meeting on Monday night
but hope for a preliminary dis
cussion with as many area farm
ers as possible on Sunday night.
The federal government uses
the agricultural conservation
program (ACP) to share with
farmers the cost of conservation
practices on Alaska farms, John
son explained. Some of the prac
tices are diversion and drainage
ditches, seeding permanent grass,
land clearing, irrigation for per
manent pasture, livestock wells,
the development of springs and
seeps and construction of ponds
for livestock water. The program
is administered by farmer com
mittees elected by farmers partic
ipating in ACP. County ASC of
fices are in the Agricultural Ex
tension offices in Fairbanks,
Homer, and Palmer.
Farmers with suggestions to
improve or change the conserva
tion program are urged by John
son to see or write their county
committeeman. Palmer commit
teeman are Victor Falk, Jr., A. R.
Carson, and Allen Linn.
HAIR STYLING
Permanents — Shampoos ]
And Smart Sets
Evening Appointments
VALLEY BEAUTY SHOP
Pbone 3301
LAVONNE JOHNSON
Don’t forget the
LEAPYEAR DANCE
March 3 from 10’til I
Palmer School Gym
Sponsored by
NORTHLAND PIONEER
GRANGE
Record Player door prim may
be seen at Bert's Drag Store
- urogram mgmigms or me
Second Alaska Farm Forum, to
be held in Palmer March 2, 3, and
4, were announced by Allan H.
Mick, chairman of the planning
committee today.
“We are expecting farmers,
processors, persons in the mar
keting trades, and agricultural
scientists and administrators
from several Alaska communit
ies,” Mick said. “And we think
the program will be a ‘stand
out’.”
The Forum, to be held in the
new Palmer high school cafeteria,
will open at 1:30 p.m. on Friday
with Palmer Mayor Charles Wil
son greeting the delegates and
introducing Dr. George D. Scar
seth who will preside at the open
ing session.
Scarseth is widely known to
Alaskans, having attended last
year’s Forum and conducted
soils studies in the Territory dur
ing the 1955 growing season.
Speakers at the opening session
will include James Hurley, Alas
ka Rural Rehabilitatkm Corpor
Ition manager, ComnVssioner of
Agriculture James Wilson, and
Philip Johnson, Chairman of the
Alaska Agricultural Conservation
Program. Roy J, Jordrt of Wash
ington, D. C., an official of the
Agricultural Stabilization and
Conservation Committee, will
speak on “The Few Farm Pro
grams”.
A Friday evening general ses
sion will feature Merrill N. War
nick, President of the American
Dairy Association speaking on
“New Developments in Dairy
Marketing”. The general session
will be followed by a group meet
ing for all dairymen to discuss
the need for a Territory-wide
dairymens’ association.
The marketing session on Sat
urday morning, March 3, will be
presided over by H. P. Gazaway,
marketing specialist at the Alas
ka Agricultural Experiment Sta
tion. Colonel Ervin L. Keener,
Quartermaster of United States
Army Alaska, will be a speaker.
Group meetings of interest to
dairymen, vegetable growers, and
homemakers will follow.
The Northland Pioneer Grange
will entertain Forum delegates at
a buffet luncheon in the Grange
Hall in Palmer at noon.
The Saturday afternoon ses
sion, .presided over by Don L.
Irwin, will include speakers from
the Social Security Administra
tion and the Bureau of Internal
Revenue, speaking on “Social Se
curity and the Farmer” and “In
come Tax and the Farmer”.
Group meetings for potato grow
ers, poultrymen, and homemak
ers will follow.
The Saturday evening session
will offer two group meetings—
(Continued on page 8)
Get Your Tickets on Our
UMBRELLA GIRL QUILT
"Help the Sorority to Help
the Community"
Quilt to be awarded at Beta
Sigma Phi style show in
Open Week Days
7 A.M. — 7:30 P.M.
Sundays
2 P.M. — 7:30 P.M.
We Will Cater for
Dinners & Banquets
PHONE 3091
Don't Forget!
Friday night is
FAMILY NIGHT at the
CLAUDIA WILSON. Mgr.
Co-Op Cafe
CLAUDIA WILSON. MGR.