VALLEY SETTLER
Published every Friday at Palmer,
Alaska, by the Matanuska Valley
Farmers Cooperating Association for
the purpose of giving news of the
Association’s work, problems, ac
complishments, and news of local
and general interest.
Subscription rates: Yearly
Local $1.00
Ey Mail 1.75
Single Copy .1©
IT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN AGAIN.
The message directed to the Alas
ka Steamship Co. from Col. O.F.
Ohlson regarding the reduction on
freight rates on feed for live
stock to the farmers in Alaska,
printed on the front page, indic
ates a condition that should be
studied, and, if possible some ac
tion should be taken this summer to
prevent this from occuring again.
The Eiltor made a motion more -
than two years ago, while a Member
of the Board of Directors of the
Cooperative, providing for the ap
propriation of the sum of $10,000
for the purchase cf a reserve sup
ply of feed for an emergency of
this kind. It was passed by the
Board and a request for funds was
made for the completion of the pro
ject, but somewhere along the way
and after a considerable length of
time, it was turned down by the
Powers that be, so that nothing
came of the action.
Nothing will be gained by rehash
ing the matter but much can be
gained by doing something to pre
vent this from happening again. As
we have stated before, this project
is still In the experimental stage
and we still have a lot more to
learn. To let this incident pass
without learning something will
certainly be a bad mistake and a
lost opportunity for constructive
work. This 'emergency will not be
fatal to the Dairy Industry by any
means, most of cur farmers have
enough'hay and grain to carry them
through, but it will mean a con
siderable loss in the development
of additional dairy products, To
ship in cows is an expensive prop
osition, and, as every experienced
dairyman knows, when you purchase
cows from the her3* in the States
you do not get the best stock. The
young stock raised in the Valley
should be much superior to most of
of the cows shipped*, in and it is in
deed discouraging to lose the ex
pense anc! labor that is entailed in
the production of the additional
cows that we need so badly for in
creased production.
It would be useless to call each
rther names and try to blame any
particular person for this condi
tion. It is just one of th-se
things that always happen v/hen a
new country is being developed.
This same thing happened in the
west.
Not only are the farmers f the
Valley fighting the forces of nat
ure in the development of the c'mmu
nity, but we are also at present,
subjected to the restrict! ns that
war entail, it is not an impossible
condition but at best it will be
difficult and it will require plann
ing work that can best bo done
through cooperative methods.
Let each cne of us put aside cur
prejudices and hates and get down
to business, plan and work together
it will mean that a lot more can be
accomplished with the same amount
cf capital and effort.
We feel sure that there is enough
land* supplies and equipment avail
able to enable every person who is
capable and willing to aid in the
production of food that will be
saleable and badly needed in Alaska
this year, if it is made available
by the agencies who have the re
sponsibilities for providing things
of this nature. In turn the farm
er must meet his responsibility
too, however, to plant more than
can be saved in the fall or to
overstock on farm animals, will not
be an economic gain. Flan with
confidence, but sanely.
In expressing an opinion n hew
we can best cooperate with Fresi*
dent Roosevelt and Secretary
V/ickard on plans for increased farm
production tils coming year here in
the Valley, it is my belief that
the farmers will be confronted with
two problems, the solution of which
will have a marked effect on the
results.
These problems are farm machinery
and credit. Being a new farming
community, we do not have access to
secondhand or reconditioned machin
ery, which is available in the
States and any additions must be
new.
Using potatots as an example, any
marked increase will depend on
Planters, Cultivators and riggers
being available to make up for the
lack of man power.
Credit is essential net only to
(continued on page 4)