THE MATANUSKA VALLEY PIONEER
Published Thursdays at
Palmer Alaska
Jack Allman, Editor - Publisher
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Subscrintion rates $2.50 yearly.
If by mail add 50d for uostage.
Single conies 5^ locally, 10b
elsewhere. For sale at BertTs
Drug °tore Anchorage.
EARNING VERSUS BORROWING
It has been our contention that
the man with a ten soot he has
earned in his rocket is a harrier
man than one with twenty borrowed
dollars, but now it looks as though
we might be wrong. Where we made
our mistake was in assuming that
everyone would rather earn his liv
ing as he went along than have it
handed to him on a long term ray
ment plan.
Early in December Mr. Sheely of
fered every colonist a chance to
earn some ready cash, either by
cutting wood or working as an em
ployee of the corn oration. ”T?eep
all cash for wood sold to outsiders,
and 50,^ for that sold to the corp
oration,'1 he said. "If you work
for wages take 25% in cash and let
the balance apply on your account
or accrue as credit against future
payments of principal and interest
upon your land and home.”
Many said they didn’t need cash,
that getting their land ready to
produce crops was more important.
They are real farmers who see more
money to come out of the soil than
they can earn with their hands.
Others who rre handy with tools
worked at finishing their homes,
thereby saving carpenter’s wages
that would otherwise be charged n
gainst them.
But what about those who are
neither getting their land cleared
nor working on their homes?
Some are working for wages, hap
py in the knowledge that besides
the 25% going into their pockets
they are creating a fund that in
time will make a substantial pay
ment on their new home.
And then there are some who
neither clear, build nor work, but
shout to high heaven that it is a
crime they are asked to sell the
sweat of their brows for a mere 25%
of a day’s wage. They demand it all.
Where, we ask, is the Utopia
wh^re one can live on credit and
soil his labor for cash?
How many of us have ?beon consis
tently able to salt 25% of our earn
ings away in the old sock?
It looks a whole lot to us as
though the man who, in the face of
► conditions as they exist hero in
the colony, uses this for an excuse,
is a man who doesn’t intend to work
at all, regardless of inducements.
QUARANTINE IS PRECAUTIONARY
I'EASITRE SAYS DR. ALBR?GTTT
To prevent spreading of the con
tagion in case the two patients at
the hospital have small oox, as
the symptoms indicate, Dr. Albrecht
has issued the following instruc
tions in a Quarantine Health. Order.
1. All colonists to remain at homes,
2. Schools to remain closed until
further notice.
3. No public gatherings.
4. No one permitted to leave the
valley unless they have been
vaccinated and can show a scar
or present a certificate of re
cent vaccination.
In another Health Notice posted
in Palmer today Dr. Albrecht an
nounces :
1. Vaccination will be given at
once for those men residing in
Bunk House R2 and Bunk Car 0347..
2. Others who must leave the val
ley in the next two weeks must
be vaccinated before leaving.
3. Vaccination will be given at
Timekeeper’s Office between 7
and 9 pm daily for employees.
4. No work will be suspended. Veep
clean, out in the open air, and
avoid group gatherings.
5. Small pox is disseminated by
contact. Thu Colonists not as
yet vaccinated will be cared
for in their own homes.
6. When necessary for Colonists to
come to Palmer we urge that
only adults do so.
7. Listen to Radio Station K.F.Q.D.
for daily notices at 10 pm.
Dr. Albrecht says he does not
anticipate an epidemic, but is
taking all precautionary measures.
The two men, corporation em
ployees, have what he suspects are
mild cases of small pox, though
there is still a chance he may be
mistaken. A point that seems to ■
bear out his suspicions, however,
comes with the news that a project
employee is down v/ith the disease
in Anchorage.
There is nothing to get excited
about, Dr. Albrecht warns us. The
cases under his care are of a mild
form and strict adherence to his
instructions will prevent the con
tagion spreading.
Father Merrill Sulzman, Fire
Warden, wishes to express his ap
preciation to the corporation em
ployees who kept their fire fight
ing equipment prepared and ready
for action.
He also asks that any colonist
v/ho has not a chemical hand ex
tinguisher in his home please stop
in at the fire hall and leave noire.
Don’t take a chance. The equip
ment is yours for the asking.