niels - - - In The Lion’s Den
What fire' protection is provided for residents of Palmer and
VTataniiska Valley? Only that afforded by inadequate and out
id equipment manned by untrained and insufficient volunteer
s. That sums up the answer to the questions asked by the
^ontiersman last Wednesday regarding local fire depart
xacilitiesi
The reason for that insufficient equipment? Just Valley apathy
rd civic problems and the usual lack of co-operation among us
live here. Modern equipment, trained and able volunteer fire
and an organized fire department all are possible here, if we
se Valley want them.
Actually a Fireman’s Association was organized here about 18
hs ago. A working fund of nearly $800 was subscribed for
•urchase of equipment and the training of firemen. An officer
the Fire Marshal's office of the Alaskan Department at Fort
3rdson was detailed to conduct an 18-week training program,
-con ’;nit with a 600-gallon tank was obtained on. a rental basis
six months period, with option to buy at $1,500 at the end of
What happened? The Fireman’s Association has disbanded be
! there were not enough civic-minded residents of this com
tv willing to attend meetings and organize themselves into an
tual fire-fighting unit. The weekly instruction program was
ioned after three lectures, because Valley residents were un
ig to give an evening a week to learn how to use the equip
. The De-con unit has been returned, since community interest
lot enough to subscribe the purchase price.
Today Palmer's fire-fighting equipment consists of a pumper
on fcan from The Alaska Railroad, a Co-op fire truck badly
ed of new equipment, and a museum-piece truck rented from
ailroad. It could be used possibly, in an emergency. Of this
able equipment, none except the Co-op truck, can be used in
(usiness districts of town, where there are no fire hydrants
>t two privately installed ones.
3almer’s fire department is made up of Co-op garage em
s, available immediately only during normal working hours,
fire after 5 p. m. cannot be reported except by going to the
rhouse in search of the nightwatchman, who will blow the fire
le. Co-op garage employes, more civic-minded than most Palm
ddents, then go to the garage to take out the Co-op fire truck.
There is no man assigned to definite duties on the fire truck,
nan who first reports to the garage takes out the truck, if he
ar and garage keys. There is no way of determining the loca
jf'the fire, except by checking with the powerhouse employe
iOm the report was made.
here is no auxiliary equippment capable of carrying reserve
ies of water to a fire—except the dairy milk truck,
n sho*rt, there is no fire protection in Palmer, which has suf
two major fires within recent years. The equipment, instruc
and even the ground on which to build a fire station are
ible. There is still a fund of S450 in the treasury of the de
Fireman’s Association.
’he only thing that Palmer lacks, in order to have trained
en. is the will to work together. But as long as the greatest
-ity of Palmer residents are willing to shrug off their personal
risibility, the city and surrounding area will be vulnerable
2S.
Ve can take the first step in the organization of an efficient
ghting unit tomorrow. Or we can wait until homes and
ess establishments are smouldering ashes. The choice is ours.
illey FRONTIERSMAN
Published each Wednesday and- Saturday
Palmer, Alaska
’rinted in Anchorage plant of Anchorage Daily Times
Daniels ...Editor
lo printed material in the Valley Frontiersman may be re
ced eycept by permission of the editor.
ription rates.75c month
lelivered by carrier in Palmer. Mailed to all points in
a and the United States.
VALLEY CLEANERS
For Pick-Up and Delivery Service
Call 6Y3
Open Monday to Friday Nights ONLY
:- -■ .U
PIGGLY WIGGLY
All Over the World
Phone Ma. 19
Open Evenings Until 9
Sundays—10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
►rnef 4th and H St.
Anchorage
Palmist Predicts
Palmy Days
For Palmerites
The veil of the future will be
unrolled for a few hours next
Saturday evening at the annual
bazaar of St. Michael’s church. A
gypsy tent will be pitched on the
gymnasium floor, where a Ro
many seeress will foretell com
ing events from Palmer palms.
Once the promises of coming
mortths are revealed, the bazaar
goer may spend his evening win
ning predicted riches at the bingo
table in the gymrrasitrm. Or his
good fortune may be fulfilled
when one of four prizes of the
evening falls to his lot. A wash
ing machine, a radio, a quilt and
an afghan will bear out the
gypsy’s promises to someone.
For those whose gold is not a
future promise but a wallet real
ity, there will be booths of food,
linens, kitchen equipment, and
costume jewelry all displaying I
j purchasable wares. The fore- I
I sighted Christmas shopper will
find practical gifts for everyone
on his 1947 list among bazaar
offerings.
Saturday's bazaar, an annual
event planned by members of St.:
Michael’s Church, will open at
7:30 p.nC in the school auditor
ium. There will be games and
fun for all the family, and the
public is invited to attend. There
is no admission charge.
I
Lake Cabin Is
Paradise Now
WASILLA—Paradise Lake is
just that now for Mrs. Gladiolus
Getzloff, local schoolteacher.
Forced to live in a tent when
local carpenters left her with an
unbuilt cabin, Mrs. Getzloff had
been finding nippy fall mornings
a bit too cool for Paradise.
However a recent Frontiers
man story of her un-housed pre
dicament brought quick help.
One Wasilla farmer left his po
tatoes in the field in order to
build the cabin. Now Mrs. Getz
loff is living in comparative com
for in her doorless and window
less abode on Paradise Lake.
She faces approaching winter
without qualms for she knows
now that Alaska’s tradition of
neighborliness and helpfulness
still lives, even in 1947.
Be popular!
develop your personality!.
a BnhJl
/■ T
TP
Modern methods of instruction
make it easy to play a piano. The
new Kimball Consolette, with its
many exclusive features, gives
you the perfect instrument for
learning. And when you’ve become
a “professional,” your Consolette
still will be superb because of its
enduring inbuilt qualities. Develop
your self-expression and be tbs
life of any social group. It’s fun
making your own music on a
Kimball Consolette. Bring the
family in to see the exciting
new models on display.
ALEUTIAN
CONSERVATORY
MUSIC STORE
Box 1296
ANCHORAGE
n
DON'T FORGET
St. Michael’s Church Bazaar
AT SCHOOL GYMNASIUM
October 18
Washing Machine, Radio, Quilt and Afghan
Given Away
Admission Is Free
Palmer
Photographic Center
Just Arrived
All Types of New Photographic
Equipment
Weston Light Meters
Per-Fex 35mm Cameras
8mm Movie Magazine Type Cameras
Mail Orders Promptly Filled
I'm getting service now that I have
entrusted my air freight problem to
Dependable
Mt. McKinley Airways
All the Way.
FREIGHT AND PASSENGER SERVICE
TO AND FROM SEATTLE
CHARTER TRIPS
521 E Street, Anchorage Phone Main 746
Agent at D & M Freight Lines, Palmer, Phone 4
Mt McKinley
AIRWAYS
Alaskan Surplus Store
Now Opened
• • •
834 Fourth Avenue, Anchorage
(First Building Beyond the Times)
Stock up for winter when you come to town
We feature heavy woolens and Arctic footgear
Big Rugged Blucher Boots.$4.95
Jumbo Wool Sox.89
Flying Boots.$4.95
Dozens of Other Real Buys
•
“IF IT ISN’T A BARGAIN,
WE DON’T HAVE IT.”
•
Open Evenings and Sundays