Home of "Matanuska Maid” -
Vol. 1
No. 27
June 10, 1938
Palner, Alaska
5 cents
In tlie May 20th issue of the Val
ley Settler Mr. Jacobs made the
announcement that the Matanuska
Valley Hospital would continue to
operate.
It was pointed out this was made
possible because of contracts
that were closed, support from
the Children’s Bureau and direct
financial aid from the colonists
and settlers of this vicinity.
Very unfortunately it has been
rumored about that the hospital
has suddenly received some spec
ial grant of money, thus making
it possible for Mr. Jacobs to
make the above announcement. The
fact of the matter is that such
is definitely not the case, and
the only source of income anti
cipated for the next fiscal years
budget are collections from the
four sources of the Four Point
Program; namely, matching funds
from the Children’s Bureau, in
come from mine contracts, work
done for the Office of Indian
Affairs and general hospital work
performed for colonists and other
private patients.
A. woi-d to those who have been us
ing the grain drills for sowing
fertilizer. This practise will
soon completely ruin the brain
drill. Then with lack of funds to
replace our machinery, you have
recklessly or thoughtlessly in
jured your neighbor who is also
depending upon this- same machin
ery. Please consider all con
cerned in this natter and use
your bettor judgement *
THINK THIS OVER
Report from the creamery shows
some astounding facts well worth
our attention and consideration.
How are we going to hold out mar
kets?
I believe everyone is aware of the
hard stru^ls we had to convince
the people of Alaska that eggs
could be produced here equal in
quality to outside eggs. Little
did the skeptical critics who in
sisted we fed our chickens fish
meal; know what it cost to find
the right feed formula for our
flocks. They do not know of the
care, thought and consideration
spent in the selection of a feed
formula adaptable to the climatic
cone itions of Alaska. This ques
tion is not yet settled to our
satisfaction. \e are feeding the
same feeds as the farmers do out
side; soon we will have out own
grain, and the problem of making
our own formula.
Add to this the present low price
of eggs and the fact that v/e have
not yet been able to raise our own
feed, due to lack of time; and it
is little wonder that so many have
cut down or failed to increase
their poultry flocks. There is no
argument against the farmer, but
the facts we must face and the
sooner the better for ourselves
individually and the Valley col
lectively.
Here is what is now happening. Be
cause our Creamery has made special
effort to compete both in price
and quality with outside eggs for
our benefit; to furnish a steady
market for our eggs, v/e now have
the market and on the verge of
loosing at least part of it.