JUNIOR CLASS PLAY
"Our Miss Brooks"
Sal., Nov. 7, — 8 p.m.
Palmer School
i
The Frontiersman
* PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
FRONTIERSMAN CLASSIFIEDS
ALWAYS BRING RESULTS
TRY ONE NEXT WEEK
VOLUME 7. NUMBER 7
PALMER, ALASKA, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 5. 1953
PRICE TEN CENTS
Co-Op to Build New
Fairbanks Creamery
The Matanuska Valley Farm
ers Co-operating Association was
notified this week that they are
the apparent low bidders for re
combined milk on a five-year ne
gotiable contract with the Army,
for bases in the Fairbanks area.
The Co-Op was among four bid
ders.
Immediate negotiations will be
started on the contract, Fred
Zieke, Co-Op general manager
said this week.
First step will be the comple
tion of plans to build a quarter
of a million dollar, project build
ing for dairy products. The build
ing will be started as soon as
possible, Zieke said, probably by
May and possibly completed by
August. The plant will be erected
in the Fairbanks area and in con
junction with the Army contracts,
farmers in the Tanana Valley
will be encouraged to take their
milk to the plant for processing
for Fairbanks distribution.
The plant will be of concrete
construction 130 feet by 68 feet
and will be used for recombined
milk processing and also include
an ice cream plant for the Fair
banks area.
I. M. Kershner, general sales
manager for Monroe Dairy Ma
chinery, Inc. of Seattle is in
Palmer ttys week negotiating for
approximately $80,000 worth of
equipment for the plant.
There will be approximately
500,000 half pints and 125,000
quarts of recombined milk pro
duced in the plant per month
with a $750,000 potential, Zieke
said, in addition to the ice cream.
The Matanuska Maid brand
will be used on all products.
In the meantime the Army will
continue to be supplied from the
local plant as they have been
the past several months.
Clayton Esslinger, M.V.F.C.A.
comptroller, who drew up the
bids for the new contract, an
nounced this week that the Co
Op plans the sale of $60,000 five
year expansion bonds. These
bonds will carry 8 percent inter
est, to be paid semi-annually by
coupon.
The superintendent for the new
plant will be trained in the local
creamery under the supervision
of Keith Walker creamery man
ager, Zieke announced.
UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF
MINES GETS EQUIPMENT
The Cleveland Rock Drill Di
vision of the Le-Roi Company
recently donated an HC 10 R re
verse Air Feed Drifter Drill and
pneumatic dolumn to the School
of Mines, University of Alaska.
This equipment represents the
latest design and will be used
in drilling classes in the mine
workings under the campus. Ne
gotiations for the drilling ma
chine and accessories were car
ried on by N. W. Reinker, as
sistant to the vice-president of
the Cleveland company and Mr.
Jack Hoskins, instructor in min
ing at the University.
MERCHANTS INVITED TO
FORMULATE ANNUAL
CHRISTMAS PARTY PLANS
All local merchants interest
ed in sponsoring the annual
Merchants Christmas Party for
Valley children are asked to
attend a meeting to be held
Monday flight November 9 at
the Valley Theatre at 7:30.
Plans for the annual party
will be formulated at the
meeting.
FARM LOAN BOARD
TO HOLD 2-DAY MEET
Members of the Alaska Agri
cultural Loan Board will hold a
two-day meeting, Monday and
Tuesday of next week in the Al
aska Department of Agriculture
office in Palmer.
Board members are meeting
primarily to discuss policies and
to review farm development and
chattel loan applications, some of
which are expected to receive ap
proval of the members.
The board consists of Paul
Greimann, president, of Fair
banks; Jim Wilson, Commissioner
of Agriculture, Robert Webb,
dairyman and Dick Jines,'bank
er, both of Palmer; Bert Stimple,
Fairbanks farmer and Archie
McLane, farmer of Kasilof.
Hospital Gets New
Administration Office
The Valley Hospital has a
new administration office, thanks
to the generousity of several in
terested persons, Jack Newcomb,
acting administrator announced
last week.
Upon the purchase by Ben Hud
gins and subsequent removal of
the old quonset hut located at the
rear of the Valley Hospital, more
bed space was required, New
comb said. The small section at
the end of the mens’ ward being
used as an office has been con
verted into ward space, with
three additional beds. The old
quonset was disposed of by
board members because of the
inability to heat it during the
winter.
The new office has been set up
directly in front of the quonset
and was loaned to the hospital
by the C. R. Foss Company of
Anchorage who are building the
new hospital. Frank Brown mov
ed the bulding from the MEA
building site and Ben Hudgins
provided a heater and wiring. Re
wiring of the building was done
by workers of the Yukon Electric,
Newcomb said and expressed his
thanks and those of the board of
the assistance given by the men
and companies.
Work on the new hospital is
progressing on schedule and
Newcomb said they expect to
run tests on the water lines this
week and may be sheet-rocking
by the middle of November.
WATER USERS ATTENTION
One inch meters are available at the office of the
City Cleric. Water subscribers with one-inch service
connections will be required to install meters before
November 30.
No further water connections will be made after
November 1 until weather conditions permit such
work.
CITY OF PALMER
Water Department
PALMER AIRPORT
GETS LONG-AWAITED
FIELD LIGHTS
Palmer Airport will soon have
lights for night landings, two
members of the Matanuska Air
mens’ Association told Chamber
of Commerce members at the
regular Chamber meeting held
November 3.
Ralph Farnsworth, president of
t)he association, told members
that through the Territorial De
partment of Aviation the associa
ion has acquired field lights that
will be set up at the Palmer Air
port on both runways as soon as
installation, maintainance and op
erating costs are guaranteed.
Farnsworth announced the as
sociation’s intention to take on
the installation and maintainance
of the lights but said they would
have to have help to pay the cost
of operation. “Commercial avia
tion will be possible, once we get
lights on the field for night land
ings,” he pointed out.
Chamber members voted to
back the project by the maximum !
payment of $200 per year for
electricity used. Members of the
association will establish fees for
the use of the field lights and
’ money collected will go toward
the electrical costs.
As explained by Farnsworth
and A1 Dickow, association officer
who was also present at the meet
ing, the lights will be operated
manually. Rough estimates by the
: men indicate that the lights
would not have to be in oper
ation throughout the summer
months and during the winter
months only as needed. A switch
will be located at the field where
association members will be able
to control the use of the lights.
Approximately 25 planes are
based permanently at the Palmer
field, they said. Night flying is
a requirement for pilots working
toward commercial licenses,
cross-country flights are apt to
come after dark and commercial
planes must have a lighted field
for regular use.
The association has, in their
eight point program, been trying
to acquire lights for the field for
many months. A memorandum
was brought before the House at
the last legislature.
The installation of lights at the
Palmer Airport may open the
way to direct air mail, commer
cial airline flights and will de
finitely increase field use, the
men pointed out.
ELKS TO HOLD
HOUSE WARMING
SATURDAY NIGHT
The Palmer Lodge B. P. O.
Elks No. 1842 will hold a grand
opening and house warming at
their new home this Saturday
evening for members and their
ladies.
The first social event promises
to be a big evening for local and
visiting Elks. An orchestra will
be on hand for dancing and the
committee has planned a full
evening’s program of entertain
ment.
Dedication ceremonies for the
home will be conducted by of
ficers of the Anchorage lodge
on Sunday afternoon November
22 followed by a cocktail hour.
The new building is equiped
with the card-key system which
all paid-up members may obtain
from the lodge secretary.
University R. O. T. C.
Passes Hundred Mark
The Reserve Officer’s Training
Coros at the University of Alas
ka has reached a total registra
tion of 102 — the first time 100
have been enrolled.
This program is one required
of all physically fit male stu
dents during their first two years
at the University. Students tak
ing the course are deferred from
active service until the close of
-Hheir college work.
Don L. Irwin
Heads New Alaska j
Farm Committee
At a recent meeting in Juneau,
Don L. Irwin, director of the
Alaska Agricultural Experiment j
Station was named chairman of £
an Alaska field committee, made _
up of heads of Department of
Agriculture agencies in Alaska. ;
The field committee was estab- ;
lished by order of Secretary of ;
Agriculture Ezra Benson. ;
Other officers chosen were Dr. ;
Allan Mick, director of Extension ;
Service, Palmer, vice-chairman ;
and Charles Wilson, Soil Conser- 1
vation Service, Palmer, secretary. ;
Additional members of the !
committee are Arthur Greeley, !
Regional Forester, U. S. Forest j
Service, Juneau; Ralph B. Stim
ple, territorial chairman, Produc
tion Marketing Administration, I
Anchorage; I. M. C. Anderson,
Farmers Home Administration, j
Anchorage and Stuart Hamilton,
Rural Electrification Administra-;
tion, Anchorage.
This is the second field com-:
mittee established in the terri-1
tory. An Interiro Deparment Al
aska Field Committee operated
from 1948 8un88 laelityr c.8ter i
from 1948 until early this year
when it was abolished by Secre
tary of the Interior McKay.
PALMER TO BE
REPRESENTED AT
LEAGUE CONVENTION
Mayor Don McKechnie and city
council member Betty Mears will
represent the City of Palmer at
the League of Alaskan Cities con
vention to be held in Cordova
November 6 and 7.
Members of the city council
passed a resolution November 3
ratifying the league’s constitu
tion and voted to send two dele
gates to the convention, and to
contribute $75 each toward trip
expenses. The city recently made
application for membership in
the league.
Officials from six Alaskan cit
ies, several territorial agencies
and legislators are expected to
attend the two-day convention.
The group plan to map out a
slate of proposed legislation. Key
speaker at the convention will be
Waino Hendrickson, secretary of
Alaska.
HEART ASSOCIATION
TO BE ACTIVATED
Members of the Heart Associa
tion have written to R. L. King
of Virginia Mason Clinic in
Seattle and Dr. John H. Clem
mons at Juneau requesting liter
ature and information in refer
ence to heart disease in Alaska,
Don L. Irwin, chairman of the
local association announced this
week.
Upon arrival of the literature
a public meeting will be called,
he said, and the association acti
vated.
Jim Hurley this week turned
over to the association secretary
Mrs. Ben Hudgins a sum of
money given by friends in mem
ory of his infant son, a heart dis
ease victim. Part of the money
will go toward the purchase of
informative literature to be dis
tributed throughout the area and
the balance will be the start of a
local fund to be used in the as
sociation’s research work, Mr.
Irwin said.
In addition to Mr. Irwin and
Mrs. Hudgins, Ed Smith, vice
chairman, is also working on the
program.
Although accidents were the
chief cause of death in Alaska
.in 1952, according to this month’s
issue of Alaska’s Health, heart
diseases were in second place,
causing 217 deaths or 17.2 per
cent.
Heart disease is the leading
cause of death in the United
States proper, F. E. Kester, direc
tor of the Bureau of Vtal Statis
(Continued on page 8)
Ronald Meehan Injured
In Freak Accident
Jack Tost, 45, popular Palmer
•esident was instantly killed
arly this morning in an accident
WATER CONTRACT
NEARING COMPLETION
With minor exceptions, !;
which are now being recon- !
ciled with the contractor, the !;
city water system contract is !;
complete, Ray Mathews, APW \
inspector said this week.
We are finaling-out the con- ;!
tract, he said, and all items in >
reference to the contract are !;
being evaluated, such as the \
number, size and footage in- ;
volved in all services. 1;
Graveling of the streets has !;
been completed as have all |
service connection and all;! |
cross-sections located and tak- ;>
en care of. <!
The system will probably j;
be turned over to the city <;
within a few weeks upon the \
completion of the contract and ;!
acceptance by the Alaska
Public Works and the City of;
Palmer, Mathews said. !;
In the meantime, the reser
voir is supplying an abundant!
amount 6f water and Ted Buz- !
by, of the water department,!
reports that it is necessary to!
’bpernte only one punrp the
majority of the time to sup
ply the demand. !;
MARTIN BABY
FOUND IN WOODS
Police officials are continuing
an investigation into the mystery
of how young Robert “Spunky”
Martin son of Mr. and Mrs. V. W.
Martin got from his bed in their
home to a wooded area some 360
feet beyond. *
Police attention was first
brought to the incident when Le
land J. Bragg who lives at the
Hilltop Cabins was walking along
Glenn Highway between Kirk’s
Sales and Service and Martin’s
Westside Service ' and heard a
child crying for his “daddy.” In
vestigating he found the two
year old youngster lying in the
brush. Clad only in a t-shirt,
jeans and oxfords, the child was
very cold, Bragg reported. Not
recognizing the child he wrapped
him in his coat and tried to lo
cate his parents. He went to the
home of Mrs. Arthur Thompson,
who in turn called Police Chief
Bouwens. In an attempt to iden
tify the boy, Larry Bixby, oper
ator of the Valley Grocery store
was called, and he identified the
boy as the son of the Martins.
In the meantime, Mrs. Martin
who had left "Spunky” sleeping
on his bed, had gone to the ser
vice station for a few minutes.
In all, she estimated, she was not
gone more than 20 minutes. She
did not miss the baby until she
went in to check on him shortly
after five o’clock and found him
gone. She went back to the ser
vice station, told her husband and
they called the police and learn
ed that he was at the Thompson
home.
Mrs. Martin said this week that
they can offer no explanation as
to how the youngster could have
gotten out of the house by him
self as he does not walk alone.
He can walk while hanging onto
the furniture and crawls around.
Two doors he would have to have
gone through were closed when
Mrs. Martin returned to the
house from the service station.
Although the baby was appar
ently exposed to the cold nearly
half an hour, he showed no ill
effects from the exposure.
The incident is being investi
gated by the U. S. Commissioner’s
office, territorial police and city
police.
at Mile 24 on the Glenn Highway.
Ronald Meehan son of Mrs. Viola
Meehan, a passenger in the Dodge
panel Tost was driving, received
extensive injuries.
According to Territorial Police
who investigated the accident,
Tost, driving the Dodge four-by
four panel was towing a Ford
semi-trailer owned by the Palmer
Baking company and driven by
Glenn Persinger. The Ford truck
had a broken universal and was
being towed into Palmer for re
pairs.
Apparently the Dodge was un
able to keep ahead of the Ford
while negotiating a down hill be
tween Mile 24 and 25, territorial
police said. Skid marks indicated
that the Ford ran into the back
of the Dodge, veered to the right
side of the highway, causing the
Dodge to flip over on the left
side. Because the 13-foot steel
cable did not break, the Dodge
was dragged along the road ap
proximately 100 feet before com
ing to a stop.
Tost apparently met death in
stantly when thrown from the ve
hicle. His body was found about
30 feet from the truck by Per
singer and Robert Butts of Taber
Transfer who assisted Persinger
in releasing Meehan who was
trapped iij^the Dodge truck. An
arinDUTaii'ce ttiok Meehan into the
5005th Air Force Hospital at
Elmendorf.
Tost was born April 7, 1908 at
Kimberland, Washington and
came to Alaska from Enumclaw,
Washingon in 1938. He worked in
coal mines for a number of years,
including the Healy coal mine
and the Evan Jones mine. Before
coming to Alaska he was a pro
fessional baseball player with the
Tacoma team in the Timber Lea
gue. The Tost family purchased
the present Tost Service Station
in Palmer in 1947 and have been
operating it since that time.
He was a charter member of
the B.P.O Elks Lodge No. 1842.
He is survived by his wife, Ro
sina, son John Gore and brothers
and sisters in the States. Funeral
. arrangements are pending.
COMMUNITY CHEST
CAMPAIGN ENDS
NOVEMBER 6
There will be a special meet
ing for all Community Chest
members Friday evening, No
vember 6, the wind-up date for
the 1953 Community Chest Cam
paign, A1 Saxton, campaign chair
man announced today.
The meeting will be held at
the Valley Real Estate office and
all team captains who have not
turned in their collections are
asked to do so at the time so that
a total may be known.
Anyone who has not made a
contribution to the Chest may
do so by contacting Mr. Saxton
at his office or through Ed Smith
at Ketchikan Spruce.
JAMES HURLEY
NAMED ARRC DIRECTOR
James A. Hurley, manager of
the Alaska Rural Rehabilitation
Corporation was elected to the
board of directors of the corpor
ation at a meeting held in An
chorage last week. He will con
tinue as manager a post he has
held since 1949.
The ARRC, with offices in Pal
mer, was organized in 1935 at
• the time of the establishment of
the Matanuska Valley colony and
makes and collects loans to farm
ers.
Other officers of the corpora
tion are George Mumford, presi
dent; Dan Cuddy, secretary;
Louis Adsather, treasurer and
Bob Atwood, all of Anchorage.
Also, L. M. DePriest and Victor
Falk of Palmer and Walter Tee
land of Wasilla. — ,