PALMER ALASKA.___Carl Rasmussen. Editor.
Publisted every Friday at Palmer, Alaska, by the Matanuska Valley
Farme^Pj^operating Association, for the purpose of giving news of the
AssoclSIRn's work, problems, accomplishments,local and general news.
Subscription by Mail $ 1.75 Yearly. Box f 1.00 , Single Cony 10^
WHICH IS BEST,IN THE LONG RUN?????????????.
The Matanuska valley has gone through several peroids of development
and the process still continues, so it might be interesting to study
some of the methods used,by Jgtferent individuals,and study the degree's
of success of different meth^Hp
One Vaiiey farmer that we know, came to Alaska a year before the
Colony was established, he paid his own way up here, was practicaly
broke when he landed and with very little funds or means at his disposal,
filed on a homestead, being a all-around handy man and expierenced farmer
he was 'able to secure limited employment and managed to place the
necessary improvements on his farm so that he could prove up on it and
get a patent, without being indebted to any one,so the homestead is his
without any incumberences.
Ke made it a rule to earn the money he needed for the development of
his farm, before he tried to get the improvements made, and during the
first few years he!\unable to produce very much for sale from the farm.
However in time and by hard worfc and good planing he was able to get a
very substantial part of his in production and-is now one of the
highest ranking producers ind^Hpfalley. His farm is clear, farm me chine
ry is paid for and he is now able to produce as cheaply and in amounts
that are as large as any other farmer in the Valley.
The JJttor feels that this man is indeed fortunate to be so well fixed
and amSjfco have the better things of life, there is no feeling of envy
becous#5re ’know that this man worked hard for every dollar that he made
to secure the exellnnt farm and improvements that he now has,and on
which he has no indobtness, and that he never asks for any favors from
any one -that would not have been granted to any worthy farmer. This man
has demonstrated the theory that has gripped the minds of the people of
America for so long,and that is-|that any one can make a success of his
undertakings in this country if he will apply himself and work for it.
However it dosent prove that^11 who want to do it, caij, or that enough
can do it,to prove that it feasnble plan for the country at large,
or that other plans are not wen better.
It is interesting to study this mans success though, because it has
points that are debatable and that is,especialy in regard to the plan
to wait until you have earned,and have the money,before you try to fcet
the things that are necessary for profitable production on new farms.
So many have failed even after these things were secured and production
was started, because repayment on the principal and the interest on th<.
principal was so burdensome that It was practicaly impossiable to meet
them and still have enough to live on, so the farmer became discouraged
and went to work for wnees, somewhere, usualy losing all that he had
Invested by work and money in the farm that he finaly abondonod, that
a case of this kind is outstanding and it will be well to consider the
methods usedinnd see if they ca’p be successfully usod by others.
The citizens of our neighboring city o.f Anchorage decided last
Tuesday#by a small but decisive vote to authorize the City Council to
purchrj^? the Fklutnn Power Plant, which has -been supplying power und
light^Rfcthe City's homeowned distributing system for some years now.
The cr.nfiign was marked by a sane, well advertised plan for the purchase
of the^rjant, the Anchorage Times and the Radio Station K.F.Q.D. made
their facilities available to those who were for,and those who were
against the proplsition,for the dissemation of any information that had
any bearing on thequestion. This is indeed a contrast to some of the
battles that have been waged in former years, over the same question,in
various cities in the States. It just goes to show that the citizens of
Alaska are fully capable of decideing their own issues in a fair and
civilized manner. Conbratulotions to the Citizens of Anchorage.