THE VALLEY SETTLER is published
every Friday by the Matanuska Val
ley Farmers’ Cooperating Associa
tion at Palmer, Alaska,
Mng. Editor: Mrs. Marie Wilson
Typist: Ina Belle Irwin
Subscription rates: $1.00 year
by mail: 1,50 year
mailed anywhere: 10^ copy
This paper is issued for the
purpose of giving information &
news ox'' the Matanuska Valley Far- |
mers’.Cooperating Association’s
work, problems, accomolishments,
and also news of local and gen
eral interest; and to help foster
the cooperative soirit of the far
. mers of the Matanuska Valley,j
NO FUN ANYMORE
Just a little more than a year
ago our present Trading post was
crowded into approximately half
the space it now occupies. At
one time the store did not have
ladies shoes to sell for more than
three months. There wasn’t a pair
of shoe strings in the place—
which just proves we didn't start
on a shoe string. When the first
shipment of shoe strings arrived
we bought more than we needed,
just to have them on hand.
And silk stockings were indeed
something v/e saw the tourists wear
ing.
The things on our grocery list
were always on next week's boat,
and the things we bought and took
home were always someplace in the
warehouse.
It sure was a heap of fun to go
to town in the good old days. If
you had a system it went like this:
rush up to the grocery counter &
ask for a dozen bars of ivory soap
and while the clerk went to the
warehouse yo\i had plenty of time
to go upstairs and ask to see the
boys overalls. The clerk was al
ways congenial and accomodating
and would drag out everything for
our inspection. If we wanted a
brand or size we couldn’t find, he
headed for the warehouse. That
was our cue to go downstairs and
pay for the soap. Then to the hard
ware department to order some
clothes- lx re, bolts find horse
shoe nails, which were in the
warehouse. By that time the over
alls had arrived and we could go
Ur.avr.irs again to find out that
the size we wanted vms missing
b-..t could he rod.
Then,we stood the kids on the
Counter so the nejet customers
could pass and we could leave.
It’s really a shame to be for
ced to give up all thii was part
of the game.
how--the clothing department has
added so many brands of entirely
row items that it is tiresome
toying to find the thing they
haven’t in stock. They not only
have silk stockings but several
brands in many new shades and
all sizes.
The latest improvement in the
meat department is nev; kinds of
bologna sausage, hand sausage and
everything found in a well-reg
rulated meat market. The reason
for this? Investigation to the
source of supply found Mr. John
Stevens, a new man from Washing
ton, who has been in the meat
business all his life, and sure
knows his ’’Baloney" .
The grocery department has every
thing from soup to nuts, and the
manager rushes around trying to
figure a way to make it bigger
and better. In fact, our Trading
Post is becoming so improved and
efficient it isn’t any fun to
ut in an order any more. Most
likely it will be filled without
a trip to- the warehouse, The '
"domed" place is becoming just
like any other store outside—
we go in, place our order, get
it filled, and there isn't any
thing to do but go home.
ROAD SIGNS
The Road Commission has reported
that all roads in the Valley are
now properly marked with road
signs. It has cost considerable
to make and place these signs,
and there is a heavy fine and six
months penalty for molesting or
disfiguring them. Please keep thejp.
in good shape.