THE FROHTIERSMAH
Entered as second class matter on Oct. 21, 1947, at the post office at
Palmer, Alaska, under the Act of March 3, 1879
A. J. BeJulio_T___ Publisher-Manager
Editor _—_Virginia Gallant
Subscription Rates 50c a month, $5 a year In Valley Area
Mailed to all points in Alaska and the United States
$6 per year
National Adv. Representative — Weekly Newspaper Representative
404 Fifth Ave. — New York 18, N.Y.
REPRINT FROM THE AUGUST 24, 1957 ISSUE
OF THE ANCHORAGE DAILY TIMES
THE CITY MAHAGER PLAN
HAS HELPED AHCHORAGE
A REVOLUTIONARY CHANGE in municipal government
getting some consideration at Juneau. ,
A movement is “^council-manager plan6 It would replace
Jhe'piSenS system whereby the city is administrated by the c.ty
COUnTheapnrop”saaTis revolutionary because it entails a substantial
-change in the system g°y(‘tr^mjunPau people indicates that two
ma"agearVereS6“T how much the change would cost Juneau and
hOWanyone"'WHO LIVED in Anchorage before the manager
syste^was adopted must have interesting recollections on the be
2," » anH “after” features of municipal government.
Before there was a manager the city government was a hodge
podge There was buck-passing among officials. Departments bick
*redOnce a storm threatened to wash out a municipally-owned
Flrintna Lake The street department refused to loan a
bulldozer to the utility commission to save the dam from destruc
tion A special meeting of the council was necessary to order the
municipally-owned bulldozer made available to save the municipal
^ ° The police department and street department had troubles
living together. There was an ordinance forbidding trucks to block
alleys. The police department jubiliantly needled the street depart
ment by placing violation tags on the garbage trucks every time
they stopped to make collections.
Financial affairs were so confused that nobody knew how
big the city deficit was or how fast it was growing larger. Neither
<jid anyone, including the councilmen, know how to bring expen
ditures under control.
The people were expecting more and more service. They were
getting less and less. J_. ,
THOSE PROBLEMS were only some of the more sensational
ones in a long list. The people voted overwhelmingly for the city
manager plan. They then had revolutionary changes.
The plan is no panacea for problems. The manager must be a
good administrator and a poor manager will never do.
Since adopting the plan Anchorage has straightened out its
municipal household. Fiscal controls are effective. Deficits have
bfeen defined and eliminated. Credit of the city has been established.
Services rendered the people have been expanded. Respon
sibility has been pin-pointed so that there is little opportunity for
buck-passing. Activities of the departments are coordinated.
The city manager plan is based on good sense. City government
is usually the biggest business in an Alaskan community. Trying
ta run it without a manager is obviously a daring venture.
Achorage has found the processes of democracy have been
^ejfpanded even though there are those who say the manager’s
I etters to
the Editor
Racine, Wisconsin
August 24, 1957
The Frontiersman
Palmer, Alaska
When I read the Frontiersman,
which my wife and I read with
much interest, about the Matan
uska Fair it brings back many
happy memories of my visit last
year to Palmer. I spent about
three weeks with Betty Jo and
had about the best vacation ever.
I most enjoyed the hospitality
I received by so many people. I
won’t mention names for fear
that I would miss some. My trips
to Seward and Copper Center
were high points and the pic
tures I took have been shared
by many local people and have
created a lot of interest in State
hood for Alaska.
Our apartment is a veritable
museum of Alaskania. Our hope
is that we may make another
t'rip to the valley together.
We whuld like to express our
appreciation to our many friends
and hope for a very successful
Palmer-Anchorage
Little Leaguers
To IHay Here Sal.
Little League baseball players
from Palmer and Anchorage will
have an ektra game this year
through special arrangements
made for a game on Saturday,
August 31 at the Valley Fair.
The game will begin at 10:15
a.m.
Palmer players will include
those Leaguers of the all-star
team which made a vexy good
showing in the Little League
tournament held in Anchorage
earlier this month.
A special ball diamond is
being laid out on the inside area
of the north end of the race
track. Bleachers will provide
ample room for spectators and
there will„be no charge made for
the use of the bleachers.
Fair this year.
JOE AND JOY RIDDLE
FOR FAST RESULTS TRY A
-FRONTIERSMAN CLASSIFIED
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powers are dictatorial. More committees than ever before are work
ing toward sound objectives. More people than ever before have
something to say about their government.
The system is so effective that more than 1,500 communities
have adopted it in the states. Most of them are small communities
in Maine, Vermont, New Hampshire, Michigan, Texas and Califor
nia. While the plan is being adopted by about 100 more cities each
year, only a few are dropping it—-something like four or five.
In Alaska the plan has been a success in Anchorage, Fairbanks,
Seward, Kodiak, Ketchikan and Cordova. The people of Palmer
are scheduled to vote on it this fall.
When Alaska becomes a state some of the benefits will come
from the constitutional provisions for a strong governor who will
have administrative powers that will make him somewhat a state
manager.
I
1
SUCCESS AND HEARTIEST BEST WISHES
lo the
MATANUSKA VALLEY FAIR
Motor-In Service
IN AND OUT AT THE
VALLEY
PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL
Persons hospitalized at Valley
Presbyterian Hospital this week
include the following: May Cor
ey, 15, of Chickaloon, Mrs. Oli
ver Smith, L. W. Hunter, David
Peterson, James E. Wilson, Mrs.
,'va France, and Mrs. Gordon
Nelson and infant son.
Persons who were hospitaliz
ed but are now out include Vic
tor Yohn, Mrs. Duane Huntley
and infant daughter, Oliver
Smith, Kenneth Forester of Mee
kin’s Lodge, Raymond DePriest,
Mrs. Mike Ulrich, Edwin De
Priest, 2%, Mrs. Jefferson Davis,
Mrs. G. L. Dees of Chugiak, Mrs.
Steve Lund and infant daughter
of Chugiak, Philip Serrell of
Wasilla, Mrs. Patrick Doyle, Mrs.
Lila Newville, Thomas Newby,
3, and Everett Pederson.
FOR FAST RESULTS TRY A
FRONTIERSMAN classified
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Good-Housekeeping Seal of Approval
DineflelabMChairi
$75.00
VARIOUS COLORS TO CHOOSE FROM . . .
DOUGLITE PLASTIC TABLE TOP, Won't
crack or peel — Unharmed by fruit juice
alcohol, boiling water
UPHOLSTERED FOAM-COVERED SEATS and
BACKS — BLACK METAL LEGS
CLOSED MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 2., LABOR DAY
CO-OP BUILDING & FARM SUPPLY
Matanuska Valley Farmers Co-Op. Assn.
BEST WISHES FOR A SUCCESSFUL
1957 FAIR
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W***********************************************************.*
U. S. CHOICE
CHUCK ROAST - 69c
Boneless Beef Boast • tl0’
- — —:--———-—»h-~--—
END CUT
PORK CHOPS - 590
U. S. CHOICE
RIB STEAK
YEARLING
HEN TURKEH
LB.
99 c
■ 39c
39c
LB.
Picric Ham * 39c