CITY COUNCIL
NOTES
The oath of office was admin
istered to A. J. DeJulio by City
Attorney John Shaw at the Aug
ust 17 meeting of the common
council. Councilman DeJulio was
elected to fill the council vacancy
created by the death of former
Councilman Parker Lester.
Ray Mathews, APW inspector,
attended the council meeting and
participated in a lengthy discus
sion of water rates in the city of
Palmer. During the dilscussion
period it was pointed out that
because the city now has full
protection as far as fire hydrants
are concerned, porperty owners
will realize a saving in insurance
rates. It was stressed that the
fire underwriters may not class
the city any lower than in the
past, which has been number
seven rating, but that because of
pressured water the rating will
not go up as it could well have
done with the old water system.
Although Mathews- could not
make an estimate on what rat
ing will be set for the city, his
water rate study was based on
the assumption that the city will
hold the seven rating. If the un
derwriters set it at six, it will
be that much better, he pointed
out. Because of the fire protec
tion nowr afforded through the
new system, the whole cost of
the system should not be borne
by the home owner water user,
the Teport showed. Had it not
been for the fire protection need- j
td within the city, the reservoir j
could have been smaller, only ;
one pump would have been neces- 1
sary. 14-inch supply lines could |
have been much smaller, no aux
iliary generator would have been
needed and the system need not
rave looped throughout the city. ,
Through the water rate analysis, '
studies of what costs are borne
oy the home owner using water
and those who are not using city :
water but have the advantage of
the fire protection, were made.
Additional studies must now be
(Continued on page 8)
Campaign Opens
For March of Dimes
Emergency Fund
*■ Iron lungs and other respiratory j
equipment have meant the dif
ference between life and death
for 1.000 polio patients so far this
year and thousands more will
need these breathing machines to
keep them alive before the end of
the year. This was disclosed by
Dr. Kenneth S. Landauer, assist
ant medical directors of the Na
tional Foundation for Infantile
Paralysis, in explaining “one of
the underlying reasons” behind
the current Emergency March of
Dimes campaign which will run
until August 31.
In Palmer contributions have
already begun to come , in Ed
Smith, area executive officer said
this week. On Monday night of
this week members of Theta
Chapter, Beta Sigma Phi, voted
to donate $200 to the emergency
campaign. All local organizations
were asked to do whatever they
can to raise contributions during
the August 16-31 drive.
Palmer Moose Lodge No. 793,
in cooperation with Palmer mer
chants, are sponsoring an area
wide project for the emergency
polio fund. Alaska’s Favorite
Game will be played at Moose
Hall on Friday night, August 27.
The appointed committee consist
ing of Ralph Moore, chairman,
Don DeLand, and William Cole
man are contacting all local mer
cants for donation prizes. They
report they already have promis
es from several merchants and
everyone contacted so far seems
very' favorable. Anyone else wish
ing to donate may contact the
steward of the Moose club or
any member of the commitee.
Sandwiches and coffee will be
sold in addition to the game and
the entire proceeds will be turn
(Continued on page 8)
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 7, NUMBER 43
PALMER, ALASKA, THURSDAY, AUGUST 19, 1954
PRICE TEN CENTS
*16,650 NEEDED TO BEGIN VALLEY MTA JOB
Sorority to Entertain
Ail Queen Candidates ;l
All queen candidates, their j;
sponsors, Fair Association of- j;
ficials and former Valley Fair j
Queens have been invited to j; j
attend a round-table coffee j
hour to be held by members ;!
of Theta Chapter Beta Sigma \
Phi on Friday evening, Aug- ;!
ust 20 at the home of Mrs. ;!
Alva Saxton. 'i
The informal gathering is ;>
being held to give the 1954 ;j
Queen candidates opportun- ;j
ity to become acquainted with ;j
one another and help them I;
prepare for public appearanc- !;
es on radio and television pro- !;
grams. Coffee and cake will !;
be served. I;
Gold Poke Arrives;
Valuable Prizes
To Be Given at Fair
The gold, which is to be award- j
ed at the 1954 Matanuska Valley 1
Fair has arrived and is being
held by the Matanuska Valley
Bank, Rusty Dow, fair association
secretary announced this week.
The gold will be awarded as first
prize on the final date of the
three-day fair.
Interest among Matanuska Val
ley Fair exhibitors has been stim
ulated this week by announce
ments of money that has been
contributed by manufacturers
and wholesalers. The money will
be used as prizes for exhibitors.
The Charles H. Lilly Company
has donated S50; the Consolidated
Dairy, S15; Westward Motors, S50;
Glenn Carrington Company, mer
chandise certificates, Goodyear
Tire Company and Alber’s Mill
ing Company.
Name Host, Hostess
Mr. and Mrs. Jim Wilson of
Palmer have accepted an invita
tion to act as official host and
hostess for the 1954 Matanuska
Valley Fair.
Concessions to Vary
several Uigalllldliuiia die uiaiv*
ing final plans for their display i
and food concession booths. Mem
bers of the American Legion Aux
iliary are going to have a food
concession this year, located in
their usual spot on the midway,
next to the Moose concession, j
They plan to feature bar-b-qued
beefburgers, coffee, ice cream
cones, pop, and glazed donuts.
The organization will feature Ma
tanuska Maid products again this
veer. Bess Johns is chairman of
the booth.
Beta Sigma Phi members are
busy rounding up all the big ket
tles to get their popular chili
ready l'or the fair. They will sell
chili-dogs, chili by the cup, hot
chocolate, coffee, pop, and home
made cakes, plain hot dogs and
possibly other items.
The Matanuska Valley Sports
(Continued on page 8)
LOCAL CANCER FUND
GETS $100 DONATION
Although money from the can
i cer campaign was turned in last
week, the local committee will
j be credited with an additional
$100. This amount was voted to
i the campaign by members of
Theta Chapter, Beta Sigma Phi
at their meeting this week. In
addition another $50 was voted
! as the local chapter’s contribu
tion to the national office of Beta
Sigma Phi to aid in the operation
al costs of a cancer scientist
whom the sorority supports.
AVIATION HEAD
RECOMMENDS CITY
ACQUIRE AIRPORT
Herman Porter, territorial di
rector of aviation, was guest
speaker at the regular Matanuska
Valley Chamber of Commerce
meeting held August 18 and told
members of the problems facing
the department of aviation in
maintaining an airport “—in or
for a city of 600 or more inhab
itants”.
A legal technicality in a law
passed by legislature in 1949 pro
hibits the department of aviation
from maintaining the local air
port because of its proximity to
an incorporated city.
A letter received by the City
of Palmer, and read at the Aug
ust 17 city council meeting, dis
closed a request from the depart
ment that the city acquire the
local airport. In asking this, Por
ter pointed out, it could be tak
en over and managed by the city,
"or some other legal political
body”. If this is done, Porter
stated, then the law says match
ing funds may be provided, how
ever, he added, there are no
funds available at this time, for
a matching fund, because funds
for this year have been extend
ed up to January 1. 1955.
A question of what condition
the local airport was in when con
struction was completed brought
the reply by Porter that it was
acceptable by the CAA as a
Class C airport at that time. That
is, he added, it was within the
minimum standard.
As airports are built in the
territory, the aviation head told
members, the costs of mainten
ance must be taken over as quick
ly as possible to relieve the de
partment of aviation so that ad
ditional airports may be built.
If the department’s money is tied
up in maintenance, it will be only
a short neriod of time before the
building of new airports will have
to be curtailed because of a lack
of funds. “This year our income
dropped $50,000. The reason for
this being reduced flying. Last
year we had $322,000. It has been
estimated at $270,000 for this year,
part of which may be matching
funds. Last year we had $100,000
in matching funds. There just
isn’t money for maintenance,”
Porter concluded.
A discussion period followed
Director Porter’s talk in which it
was brought out that if the city
would agree to acquire the local
airport that possibly the depart
ment of aviation could make nec
essary improvements on the air
port prior to the city’s taking it
over. The cost of maintenance
j has already been worked out by
members of the Chamber’s air
port committee and members of
the Matanuska Valley Airmens
Association, whereby the airport
' would pay for itself, if it was
put in operating condition before
being taken over by the city.
Porter suggested that any rec
ommendations the Chamber of
Commerce or City of Palmer
would have pertaining to the
airport be submitted to the De
partment of Aviation prior to s
department board metting to be
| held in Nome in October.
Members of the Chamber anc
Airmens committees will meet tc
formulate suggestions that wil
' go to the Department of Aviation
SO-OP GROSS SALES
TOTAL $4,135,000
FOR PAST YEAR
Sixty-three voting members j
and nearly 100 additional persons !
attending the Matanuska Valley
Farmers Cooperating Associa
tion’s annual meeting on August
14 heard production reports for
the past year: elected two new
members of the board of direc
tors, declared a 13 percent divi
dend, and enjoyed a luncheon of
fried chicken and corn-on-the
cob.
Total figures showed gross
sales of some $4,135,000 during
1 the past year. Certificates of
equity will be issued in the
amount of $211,233 to over 400
members.
Other reports present to asso
ciation members showed a total
of 4,716,000 pounds of milk sold
during the past year; 89,000 doz
ens of eggs; 92,000 pounds of let
tuce; 16,400 pounds of beets;
110.000 pounds of cabbage; 2,000
pounds of turnip greens; 9,700
pounds of turnips; 520 pounds of
rhubarb; 77,000 pounds of celery;
380 pounds of cauliflower; 355,000
pounds of carrots, and 8,150
pounds of onions. A total gross of
S185.750 was realized from pota
, toes.
On the other side of the ledger
were additional interesting fig
ures. Nearly one half million dol
lars was paid out during the year
for wages, salaries and the wel
fare plan; $30,000 in taxes; $211,
233 in dividends and $25,000 in
insurance. These were some of
the more evident expenses of op
erating the biggest industry in
the region. A dividend of 13 per
cent was declared for members
this year.
Prizes awarded during the
meeting went to the following;
O. L. Byers, Zenith radio; Dave
Philo, electric drill; Ray Rebar
| chek, $25 in merchandise; Mrs.
Glen Barnes, Pendleton blanket;
Nubel Hamilton, electric frying
pan, Martin Olson, tire.
Queen Candidates
To Get Extra Bonus
Valley Fair Queen contestants
really have something to work for
this year. At the August 16 meet
ing board members voted to in
crease the “bonus” payments for
ticket sales. Previously each girl
received S25 upon qualifying by
having sold 250 tickets. The only
additional money received by the
candidates was a 10 percent bon
us paid on total sales at the close
of the contest.
According to the new schedule
each candidate will not only re
ceive the above money but will
receive a S25 bonus each time
1 she sells 250 tickets, up to 1,000.
When she sells 1,000 tickets she
will receive $50 and an addition
al S50 for each 250 tickets sold
over the first 1.000. At the close
! of the contest the candidate will
also receive 10 percent of her
total ticket sales.
Over and above the mentioned
j amounts, the girl who is choser
i to reign over the 1954 Matanuskc
Valley Fair will also receive $250
PURCHASES BUSINESS
Mrs. Ethelana Elmore has pur
chased the interests of Mrs
. Thekla Mielke in the Togs T
Seams shop and will continue th<
business in the Theatre buildinj
where the shop was opened ii
! March of this year.
PAT CHANDLER
FIRST TO QUALIFY
IN QUEEN CONTEST
Pat Chandler, second Valley
girl to enter the 1954 Valley
Fair Queen contest was the !
first to qualify when she turn- ||
ed in the required number of ;j
250 tickets sold last Satur- >
day. Pat is being sponsored by I;
the Knik Drive Inn and is !;
daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Har- I;
old Chandler. As a bonus for !
qualifying Pat will receive $25.
In addition, because she was
one of the first four girls who ;
registered for the contest the j;
fair association, will pay for
her photography Other con
testants are expected to qual- ;!
ify momentarily. ;!
SEVEN GIRLS
IN QUEEN CONTEST
Three more Matanuska Valley
girls have entered the race for
the 1954 Valley Fair Queen title.
They are Judy James of Sutton,
Verna Adams of Palmer, and
Barbara Dees of Chugiak. They
bring the total number of con
testants up to seven for the an
nual event.
Verna, who is daughter of Mr.
and Mrs. Ray Adams, is being
sponsored in the contest by her
employers, the Frontier Cafe, and
i_o-sponsoi.e.d by the Palmer Bak
ing Company. Petite Verna is but
five feet tall and weighs 98
pounds. She has lived in the Ma
tanuska Valley since July 4,
1948, coming here from San Jose,
California- The 16-year-old con
testant has dark brown hair
which she wears in an attractive
short cut. Her eyes are brown.
Music, ice stealing, and sewing
are Verna’s favorite hobbies. Her
(Continued on page 4)
R.E.A. OFFICIAL
OUTLINES INITIAL
NEEDS DURING VISIT
E. C. Weitzell, cheif of tele
phone operators and loan divi
sion of the Rural Electrification
Administration attended a meet
ing with board members of the
Matanuska Telephone Association
on this week Monday. Ancher
Nelson, chief of the REA was also
in attendance.
Weitzell outlined the present
status of MTA by stating that the
loan of $567,000 "has been approv
ed by REA, outlined conditions,
and stated that REA is now
ready to go ahead with final nego
tiators to get MTA into actual
operation.
Inasmuch as this local REA
telephone is the first of its kind
in the territory, it will be a pilot
project and will set a pattern for
additional loans in Alaska, Weit
zell stated.
Things that must be done at
once by the MTA were presented
in order of their importance,
first of which is the collection of
an equity of $30, 650 of which
$16,650 must be on deposit be
fore funds can be released for
construction. “It is of utmost im
portance to get as complete a
sign-up as possible while the pro
ject is still in its design stage”,
tho REA official pointed out. The
reason for this being that the
new telephone system will be
built from the central office out.
For this reason it is important
that members be signed-up now
to insure against inadequate
funds and to assure improved
service to the various areas.
Lew Hanks, MTA chairman,
said this week that money for the
initial stages of the project will
be raised through a campaign
scheduled to begin this coming
(Continued on page 4)
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