VALLEY SETTLER
Published every Friday at Palmer,
Alaska, by the Matanuska Valley
Farmers Cooperating Association,
for the purpose of giving news of
Association’s work, problems, ac
complishments, and news of local
and general interest.
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FARM MOBILIZATION
Tuesday, January 12th., was named
as the day for Farm Mobilization In
the United States, by the President
and his Cabinet. Farm Secretary
Wickard must 0et some satisfaction
out of the fact that the rest of
officialdom in Washington has fin
ally become conscious of the fact
that his more than a year old state
ment, that, "FOOD WILL WIN THE WAR
mt DICTATE THE PEACE" has finally
become so Important that It de
serves and gets the attention of
most of our important War Officials
T he Farmers of the U.S. did more
than their share In the war effort
last year, in spite of the shortage
of help and equipment. The farms"
were made to produce way beyond any
thing that was ever accomplished
before. Congratulations were re
ceived from all over the world in
the payment of homage to the Farm
ers backing up the front line.
Even a greater effort is called
for during the coming year and it
must be done. Some conditions will
be more difficult for the Farmer,
but, in some cases arrangements
have been made that will be more
favorable, but the fact remains
that the older people, supported by
the women and children will have to
help to a greater extent than ever
before.
The Matanuska Valley must do itfs
part too. Millions of dollars have
been spent to prepare this Valley
for enlarger) agricultural product
ion, and, while the pro&ram has not
been as successful as was expected
and there still remains much to be
'’one, we should not let anything
deter us from doing everything that
we can to answer to call of the
Nation to produce more abundantly
for the war needs. The Valley has
certain obstacles to be overcome
that the average farm community in
the States does not have, but it
also has certain advantages that
are not common elsewhere. We have
markets that cannot be supplied
from any other source and of course
this means a higher price for the
products that come under this head
ing. However, all must realize
that life is not easy or simple in
this Northern Clime, and so far we
have been learning the HARD WAY and
it looks like we have a hard row to
hoe for some time to come. This is
no place for a tender-footed Chee
chako, yet.
Now, while we have many natural
obstacles to overcome* we also have
some artificial ones too, those
that we have made for ourselves, so
far, we believe, the barriers that
we have erected to stop the sure
and orderly development of the Mat
anus ka Valley has been greater than
the natural barriers, and it must
be recognized and the problem met
fairly and squarely.
The soluticti x.f this problem must
be made by the Feople in the Valley
It can't be solved any other way*
And, before we can expect to acccipp
lish the task set before us, we
must meet this problem. The Editor
feels that he knows what is wrong
and how to set things aright, but
maybe we are wrong, and so, before
we state what we think is wrong aqd
how to make the adjustment, we
would like to know what other
people's Ideas are too, so we will
welcome letters or personal con
tacts that mi&ht enable us to pre
sent both sides of the question for
the oonsideration of those who are
affected.
We expect to present the views of
the men who are public-spirited
enough to serve as Directors of the
two largest organizations connected
with the management of the affairs
of the Valley, Namely, the A.R.R.C
and the Cooperative, and. their man
agers, who have the direct respon
sibility of keeping the machine op
erating, The Editor has no ioro to
grind in connection with this mat
ter, and is trying to work in the
best manner for the public interest.
We feel sure that the Cooperative
Board and it's manager will be j^»d
to help out and do their share to
find rut what 'can f-.ftd *b uld be
dene to secure the cooperation of
all of the Agencies that are re
sponsible for the solution of this
problem. We cannot help but feel
that there is a solution and that
it can be found and used to provide
for the utilization of every acre
of tillable land in the Valley this
year, and to provide for the needs
of the producers who mean business
and. deserve assistance. Let us try
(continued on page 4)