Vol. I
No. 14
BOARD ACTS OF VITAL I8CUAS
Back time, title to lrnd, the
hiring of colonists, and the manner
in which house values will he de
termined were among the problems
discussed at the Board of Directors
meeting held here last Tuesday ac
cording to Hr. * 'illiarn Bouwens , col
onist member of the governing body,
!?Due to the necessity of await
ing 'Washington .ropyoval on most sug
gested policies, it will take time
to iron everything out,” said Hr;
Bouwens, He is confident, however,
that eventually each oroblen will
be met and solved in a manner sat
isfactory to ail.
Back credit, something of vital
imuortance to most colonists, is the
first issue ihr, 3oiwens rut bofore
the board.
After some discussion it wm de
cided that credit would be given for
all time of work on sawmills, log
ging and so forth, but credit for
work done by a colonist on his own
home would bo automatically taken
care of by the house apnraisal plan
adopted at the meeting.
This means that each house will
bo appraised by an official quali
fied in this work, and each colonist
will ho charged only with the mater
ial that went into his house and
other buildings, plus the hired la
bor hours against them.
By this system it is recdily
seen that those who did the most
work on their homes will nay the
least, their Ichor being an actual
saving in cost, rather than a cred
it. It cmounts to the same thing
as Tback time,’ hut the hoard feels
it a much fairer and more simple
method of reimbursing a man for work
on his own niece.
The board also feels that the im
provement of the land is of first
importance to the success of this
whole undertaking and there will he
no hiring of colonists except where
skilled labor is required, and then
it will he at the going wage scale,
the colonist receiving 25$ in cash
and the balance in credit against
his account.
This doesnTt mean that the colo
nist who isnTt skilled, and who
doesn’t get.a job, won’t be able to
earn a few dollars, though. He has
just as good a chance as the other
fellow,
There is a market foi wood here
and any colonist can cut mine arcus
or fuel from his own forty, sell it}
and retain all cash. Hood purchased
by the corporation, however, will he
paid for on a 50$ cash, 50$ credit
basis•
The matter of clearing land
has been taken un with Washington
wid a reply is expected shortly.
As regards the title rights of
a colonist in the land he is im
proving, Kr. Sheely states that a
committee of colonists is to he
formed with the view of having
then draw up, and submit, a con
trot which will sive the indi
vidual colonist assurance that he
has a legal claim to the land as
long as he fulfills his end of the
existing contract with the corro
ration,
CHRISTINAS PLANS UNDER "AY
Palmer is to have a real Christ
mas treat if plans being made by
the Alaska Steamship Company and
the Alaska Railroad work out sat
isfactory ly.
Everything depends upon sched
ules, but if it is at all possible
the entertainers from the "Christ
mas Ship" Victoria will be here
on December 21st under the direc
tion of Old St. Nick himself.
There will be a good show for
all, and Santa Claus in nerson to
distribute oresents of fruit and
candy to the kiddies.
There will bo more
nouncements later.
detailed an
GA1'_ ASSOCIATION FORTRD
At a meeting last Monday eve
il inr. The Matanuska Game Conserva
tion Association was formed with
Ray ’ ilkos as chairman; Nicholas
Noiler, Clarence Sjodin and Lester
Nilsworth as district committee
mon, and lack Allman as secretary
and treasurer. Committeemen at
larf e nro Howard Lyng and Tom 0 rDcl
deputy game warden stationed in th
valley.
Ray Rilkes gave a short talk on
the advantages of game conservatioi
as he had observed the effects of *
in his home state of Minnesota, Mr*
lack 0fConner, Game warden from th'
Anchorage district who was a guest
at the meeting, gave some very car
fully thought cut advice on the
best manner to nroceed with a pro
ject of this kind.
It is the aim of the organiza
tion to see that existing game is
protected and to make every nos
sible effort to persuade the Al
aska Game Commission to stock the
valley with deer from the South
eastern section of the Territory.
Anchorage residents interested
(c ontinued on page 5)