VALLEY SETTLER, Plainer Alaska. Carl>.Ra‘smussen, Editor.
Published every Friday at Palmer, Alaska, for the purpose of giving
! news of the Matanuska Valley Farmers Cooperating Association, its
problems, accomplishments and work. News of local and general interes ;
to the people of the Matanuska Valley and outlying districts.
Subscription by Mail,$1.75, yearly. Box $ 1.00, single copy 10 i
ALASKANS' HAVE CONFIDENCE IN MATANUSKA.
Ohc of the most supriseing things noted by the writer, during a trip
to the near interior of the Territory, recently, is the changed attitude
of the people in those districts,Toward the Matanuska Valley farming
project. It was only n few years ago that the average Alaskan regarded
this project as a lot of nonsense, just another ftne of these places
where the Government v/as spending a lot of money in a futile attempt to
■develop farming in this far north, country whero the chances of success
were absolutely non-existant. Ridicule and contempt was expressed for the
efforts of the people who had chosen to try the expierment. Many unkind
statements were made that were so unfair that they were ridicuius.
N° doubt a great many of the Valley people also felt very much like
leaving as various discourageing events occured, however there has .been
i considerable number who were determined to sec it through and while
there is a lot of ground that must. be covered before the project can be
declared a qualified success, yrt'the chances are so much better now
that many new people are even becoming interested.
While it is true that the U.S. Government has advanced funds frr in
xcess of the present eppearent value,of the project, for its development,
it should be remembered that the people who have assisted in this work
fIso have invested an equal amount of money and lfbor, as-a speaker
stated at a meeting held today. It is the opinion of the writer, that if
the purpose of this project is wholly for the selling of lands and
r hidings to farmers and their famclies, that must be repaid in n short
■ic so that it would b^ profitable to the sellers, then it is c.n awful
•'Ilure and should be tbondonod.
However, if the results most desired are mostly for the purpose of
finding out by expierence, just what can be done here end whether the
lerritrry can furnish a living t<"> families, who want homes and who are
willing to put forth rs much labor as they would have to expend in any
~ther farming territory for that purpose, then we think that it has been
mifcrmly successful and deserves furthur consideration. A history of
many other projects of this kind will show that it takes, ^n cn average,
rt leat tv/ generations to develop a country, and often three.
And now despite the drawbacks that must be endured diiring the subduolng
of a new country and the various upheavals that hove occured during the
short history of this Colony, v/e find many Old Time Anlskans who are
very enthusrstic about the progress made and who state that they would
like to move into the Valley and join in furthur development. We feel
that this is indeed. cncoure.geing,for when our worst critics and the most
skeptical become ccnverts to cur way of thinking,then we must have some
S'mcthing substantial to offor them.
Then again there is a greater demand for our products than over before,
nd with the construction of now and larger facolities for processing
ond handleing our many products, thcLmftrchsrnts who have been hard tc sell
to,because we could not provide a substrntie.l amount for a great length
yf time, v/ill be willing to purchase our products.
The main thing that we need now Is more cooperation among our farmers,
nd that seems to be better than ever before, when wo reach the stage
where we can supply a maxiumn amount of standard products, that can be
oreduced at o fair price, then we can"get in the groove" end make our farm?>
o /. Other problems have to3fmet like the problem of credit to supplant .
\* present lack of capital, more care must be exercised in the care and
’andleing of our products than has genernly^becn observed, nnc? when the
■rmy can no longer take the bulk of our products, then the proposition
regarding sales and a^vertisoing must bebullt up,so that it will enable
is to dispose of the surplus that will be raised, which can be used to
elp build up cur capital and for meeting financial reverses durinb the
rears when prices are low rnd demand l^wer,