Phana 44 or I3J3I
See Al Brooks or AI Brager
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VOLUME 7, NUMBER 25
The Frontiersman
PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
PAIMER. ALASKA, THURSDAY, MARCH 11. 1954
TRY A FRONTIERSMAN
CLASSIFIED AD for that
item you may have for sale,
rent or lease.
PRICE TEN CENTS
1
I
I
Ammonium Nitrate
To Arrive March 20
Freight costs for ^ammonium
nitrate fertilizer shipments which i
are scheduled to leave Seattle J
aboard the M. V. Coastal !Mon- |
arch on March 12 will be essen- I
tially the same as last year, Fred <
Zieke, Co-Op general manager <
said today.
Mid-stream loading of the 2b0
tons of fertilizer destined for Al
askan farmers will be handled at ,
Blake Island, Seattle March 12
and over-the-dock at Seward, on
March 19 or 20, Zieke said.
Original freight costs had been
set at $3.17 plus $1.15 from Sew
ard to Palmer. This total of $4.3$
would have made the use of am
monium nitrate by Alaskan farm
ers impractical. Through negotia
tions carried on in Seattle by
Zieke and steamship officials, the
rate was dropped $2.30 per hun
dred, a saving of a little more
than $2-00 per hundred, or more
than ten thousand dollars on the
entire 260-ton shipment.
ROAD RESTRICTIONS
EFFECTIVE APRIt 1
Consideration must be given to
protection of the Territorial high
-way system during the spring
breakup, Irving Reed, highway
engineer announced this week.
The breakup period on the inter
ior highway system will begin
about the first of April and all
shippers are advised that restric
tions of load weights will be ef
fective on that date.
In the enforcement of the high
way restrictions all loads will be
reduced as of April first to 50 per
cent of the gross allowable shown
on the Territorial highway load
chart, and in some cases it may
be necessary to eliminate truck
traffic entirely, Reed said. While
these restrictions may prohibit
profitable movement by large
freight trucks, it will permit op
eration of light and delivery type
trucks, he pointed out.
SENIORS TO PRESENT
"A DATE WITH JUDY"
On March 2? the Senior Class
annual play will be presented at
the Palmer Central School. “A
Date With Judy” was chosen for
this year’s presentation and is
being directed by Keith Stanton.
General admission and reserved
seat tickets may be purchased
from students or at the school
office.
ICE SKATING
AREA IS FLOODED
The ice skating area located
behind the Charles Wilson and
Ted Buzby homes was flooded
last night by the City Fire De
partment but is not yet ready
for the silver blades. Warm
weather prevented icing today.
It was pointed out that this
is not a private skating area
and that everyone is welcome
; to enjoy a few hours of skat
; ing at any time. The youngsters
; who have been skating early
; this season plan to keep the
[ ice free of snow.
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--—----“• t
American Legion
Plans Celebration
On 35th Anniversary
The Matanuska Valley Post No. ,
15 American Legion, will join 17,
450 posts throughout the world
in celebration of the 35th anni
versary of the Legion s birth in
1919.
Born in Paris, France, the Am
erican Legion is the world s
greatest veterans organization
with close to 3,000,000 members.
Locally, the Legion is known for
its good works and community
service. Nationally it stands four
square for positive Americanism
—greater National security—re
habilitation of veterans, and a
square deal for every child.
Throughout the nation Ameri
can Legion posts and Auxiliary
units will celebrate during the
week of March 14-20 with birth
day parties. In Palmer the Le- |
gion Auxiliary is planning a pot
luck dinner party for Legion
members. The party will be held
Thursday evening, March 18, be
ginning at 6:30 p.m. at the Legion
Building. All Legionnaires and
prospective members are invited
to attend.
The Valley Post received its
charter October 11, 1935, with 24
names listed as charter mem
bers. Of these, six still hold ac
tive membership, four have since
died and many others have mov
ed from the Valley.
Charter members were: Walter
G. Pippel, J. R. Lund, Edgar H.
Rodgers, C. David Onkka (pres
ent member), Isaac Moore, Grant
; France (deceased), Jack Allman
; (deceased), Thomas L. Biggs, Rex
A. C. Atwood, Lawrence P. Ror
! rison (present member), Frank
W. Worden (deceased), Max En
nes, Seth B. Cook (present mem
ber), Otto W. Peterson (present
member), C. E. Ruddell, E. D.
Coffey, Emil A. LaWalter, Harry
s Jesen, Leonard W. Herreid, Os
1 car Beylund (present member),
t V. G. Falk (present member),
r Lawrence F. Arndt (deceased),
s Einer Huseby, and B. J. Bingle.
.• In less than 19 years the Val
| ley Post has grown from its first
| 24 members to a membership of
^ approximately 160. Robert Johns
is present commander, assisted by
s the following additional officers:
John Weisenberger, first vice
; commander; Ray Lancaster, seconc
vice-commander; Phil Everet, ad
jutant; Morris Halgerson, chap
; lain; Henry Leibing, seryice of
; ficer; and Everett Patterson, ser
: geant-at-arms.
Dr. Foster Sims, member o
j; the local Post, is Departmen
; I Commander.
; The local Post will receive Ter
!; ritorial recognition in June whei
! the annual Territorial conventioi
!; will be held in Palmer from Juni
!; 23 to June 26. Over 300 visitinj
' Legionnaires, Auxiliary members
; and their families are expecte*
to participate.
WORK TO BEGIN
APRIL I ON CO-OP’S
FAIRBANKS PLANT
Contract negotiations were
completed last week by the Ma
tanuska Valley Farmers Cooper
ating Association on the one-story
concrete reinforced steel build
ing in Fairbanks which will house
the Co-Op’s new Fairbanks
creamery, according to Fred Zieke
Co-Op general manager, who re
turned from Fairbanks this past
week end.
Remodeling on the 7,600-square
foot building will begin April 1
under the supervision and engin
eering of Lee Link of Fairbanks.
The building is located at 124
Second Avenue in the far-north
city.
“We hope to be in operation
by June 1", Zieke stated. The
plant will be used for recombin
ed milk processing, will include
an ice cream plant for the Fair
banks area, and in conjunction
with existing Army contracts,
farmers of the Tanane Valley will
be encouraged to process their
milk through the plant for Fair
banks distribution. The Matanus
ka Maid brand will be used on
products produced in the new
plant.
COUNCIL NOTES
In the absence of Mayor Don
McKechnie, Councilwoman Betty
Mears presided at the March 9
meeting of the City Council.
• • *
Members of the budget and fi
nance committee reported that a
study has been started of tax
assessments on real property in
the city of Palmer, and will be
presented to councilmen when
completed. Variations in assess
ments have been found, it was
reported, and some may have to
be re-evaluated, either up or
down ,as the case may be.
* * *
A disturbance this past week
at the White Spot Cafe was re
ported by Police Chief Bernard
Bouwens who told council mem
bers that the case is being turn
ed over to the Military for action.
* * •
Following a discussion on the
leasing of a telephone line from
the Alaska Railroad, Parker Les
ter, chairman of the telephone
committee, moved that the City
of Palmer attempt to lease a line
between Palmer and Matanuska,
at a nominal fee, providing one is
available. If the city is able to
lease a line it would relieve an
existing line which now has about
13 users and would permit pick
ing up three or four additional us
ers who have made appplication
for telephone service, including
the Experiment Station.
• • •
The new six-inch pump has
• been installed at the reservoir
- Russ Felzien chairman of the wat
er committee reported. Although
- many city residents have reported
1 frozen water lines, none of these
i have been in the city distributor
; line. The reservoir is full and the
; pumps are working very well, he
, stated. During a discussion tha
1 followed, it was brought out tha
(Continued on page 8)
KENAI REFUSES
INCORPORATION
Voters of Kenai on March 9
defeated a proposal to incor
porate their village as a first
class city by an overwhelming
vote of 158 to 28.
Alfred Hagan, former Palmer
mayor, attended a meeting held
in Kenai Monday night of this
week when between 85 and 90
persons gathered for a discus
sion on the good and bad points
of incorporation. Following
former-Mayor Hagen’s talk a
question and answer period
was held during which time
the costs of city operations
were brought out.
Both sides were reported to
have campaigned strongly pre
vious to the election date.
DAMAGED SEED
TO DE REPLACED
Jim Wilson, Commissioner of
Agriculture, returned to Palmer
last Wednesday from Valdez
where he assisted in the inspec
tion of seed and feed, damaged
when the Coastwise ship James
Lick caught fire.
Wilson had planned to make
the trip for discussion with farm
ers in that area on agriculture
problems, market production and
the farm loan program.
Because of weather he was. un
able to make the trip by plane
and drove to Valdez with steam
ship officials. He said they found
the hold where the seeds were
stored had been ordered flooded
by the Coast Guard and conse
quently the oats were completely
submerged by salt water, which
was later pumped out. A ship
ment of creosoted poles carried
in the same hold had, with the
water, ruined the oats for seed
purposes and they were not found
suitable for any other purpose.
Co-Op Gels New Order
Some feed which was only
slightly damaged by smoke or
water was shipped into Palmer
and sold at half price, Fred Zieke,
Co-Op general manager said this
week.
The entire shipment of seed
was reordered, Zieke said, and
was scheduled to leave Portland
March 10, with a shipment prior
ity direct to Seward from Seattle
at the old freight rate. “Even
though the price of seed has gone
up since our original order ,
Zieke said, “we were able to re
order at the original price.”
H. J. Hodgson
Elected Hospital
Association President
H. J. Hodgson, member of the
board of directors of the Valley
Hospital Association was electee
president of the association at i
meeting of board members helc
following the annual meetini
March 4.
i V. Louise Kellogg, new boarc
, member, was elected vice-presi
dent, Priscilla Bacon, secretary
i and Hugh Johnson was re-electec
l treasurer.
: Other board members are Mrs
i Harold Dinkle of Wasilla, Mrs
: Rivera Hiber, Eska, Ed Smitl
! Jack Newcomb, Jasper Skok, an<
t Rev. Brian Cleworth all of Pal
t mer, and Rev. Rolland Armstron
of Juneau.
Hundreds Attend
Hospital Dedication
Board Members Give
Annual Reports at ;
Hospital Meeting '
A good representation of the
Valley Hospital Association turn- \
ed out for the annual meeting on i
March 4, heard various committee j
reports and elected three board
members. V. Louise Kellogg and
Mrs. Harold Dinkle were elected
to the board. Hugh Johnson was
re-elected.
The meeting, which was con
ducted by association president
Ed Smith was opened with re
ports from board members con
cerning their work during the
past year. H. J. Hodgson, chair
man of the new hospital construc
tion, told members that the hos
pital is expected to be ready for
occupancy within a month or two.
The expected day of completion
will be several months ahead of
schedule, he pointed out. Ed
Crittenden, architect, was given
credit for the very few change or
ders which were necessary in the
constcucCr-n of the hospital.
! ‘What changes we did make,
were of the type that we ordered
ourselves,” Hodgson said.
To date there are 95 paid up
members in the association, Jas
per Skok, membership chair
man stated. Several means for
paying membership dues were of
fered by those attending and by
vote of the membership it was
decided to lower the fee to $2.50
per year from the present $5.00
rate.
A complete financial report was
given by Hugh Johnson, includ
ing a report on past-due accounts.
‘We have been as careful as pos
sible in making sure that no hard
ship cases have been turned over
to the attorney for collection,”
Johnson stated. There have been
48 accounts, or over $8,000 turned
over to the attorney for collec
tion. One hundred and fifty eight
accounts have been marked ‘‘no
good”. Some of these date back to
1950, he pointed out.
Johnson told members that $9,
500 remains outstanding on hos
pital bonds purchased by mem
bers. Members voted to retire the
bonds as soon as possible. Mem
bership fees in the association
would be applied to this, as would
any monies realized from the
sale of hospital equipment now
in use, that will not be used ir
the new hospital.
Interesting figures on increased
hospital patient load were giver
by Jack Newcomb. In 1952 the
Valley Hospital averaged 10.4 pa
tients per day. In 1953 the aver
age increased to 12.6 patients pei
day. Ed Crittenden pointed ou‘
that the national average is 10/
per day and that the Valley Hos
pital has exceeded that average
even with inadequate facilities
Forty more babies were born ii
1953 than during the previou
year, with a total of 112 for 195.
topping the 1952 figure of 72.
Over one thousand out-patient
(Continued on page 8)
Many hundred persons from
Palmer, the territory, and the
States attended dedication cere
monies held March 6 for the new
Valley Presbyterian Hospital.
Beautiful sunny weather permit
ted out-door ceremonies.
Rev. Brian H. Cleworth of the
United Protestant Church and
a hospital board member opened
the ceremonies by delivery the
invocation. Words of welcome
were extended by Ed Smith, hos
pital board president, who then
introduced past and present
board members, along with doc
tors and members of the nursing
>aff. f
Three beautiful renditions by
the Palmer High School choral
group were offered under the di
rection of Miss Lois Thompson.
Miss Elsie R. Penfield, secretary
of women’s work, Board of Na
tional Missions was very well re
ceived by the large group in at
tendance at the ceremonies,
when she told of the origin of
her idea for the “Pennies for Pal
mer” campaign conducted thro
ughout the States, which resulted
in the collection of some $230,
000 which w is contributed toward
the -Hospital construction.
Other speakers included Hugh
Johnson, chairman of the local
fund drive; Dr. C. Earl Albrecht,
territorial commissioner of health;
Dr. Edward T. Blomquist, medi
cal director, Arctic Health Re
search Center; Edwin B. Critten
den, architect; C. R. Foss, general
contractor; Harold Pomeroy, who
brought greetings from Gov. B.
Frank Heintzleman; H. J. Hodg
son, chairman hospital construc
tion; Mayor Donald McKechnie;
1 and Dr. Rolland Armstrong, who
gave the dedicatory prayer and
benediction.
During the ceremony keys to
' the new hospital were presented
' to Ed Smith, board president, by
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C. R. Foss, contractor.
Following the ceremonies more
than 500 persons inspected the
completed sections of the hospital
and were served refreshments by
boardmember’s wives and mem
bers of Beta Sigma Phi sorority.
Members of the Anchorage
Chamber of Commerce, delegates
to the Yukon Presbytery and
Presbyterial, and their families
were guests of the Matanuska
Valley Chamber of Commerce at
a buffet-style luncheon featuring
Valley products, previous to the
dedication.
Although the hospital was of
ficially dedicated on March 6, it
is not expected to be ready for
use for at least another month.
Reserve the Night of
March 19 or 20 for
WASILLA GRANGE
ANNUAL FOLLIES
Door Prize on Friday
Fun — Talent — Frolics
8 p.m.
Wasilla Community
Hall