The Frontiersman
PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLET
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VOLUME 8, NUMBER 14
PALMER, ALASKA. THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 1955
PRICE TEN CENTS
DR. PATTY PRAISES AG RESEARCH WORK
ARC EXPECTING
LOAD RESTRICTIONS
SIMILAR TO 1954
In an effort to minimize the loss
suffered by highway users as the
result of load restrictions during
spring break-up, the Alaska Road
Commission is submitting the
following detail regarding pre
vious years’ experience for con
sideration, and for use in planning
movements for most economical
compliance with the necessary
highway closures.
According to A. F. Ghiglione,
commissioner of roads for Alas
ka, all truckers must recognize
the need for some restriction of
loads during the break-up period
and they may be assured that
the application for restrictions to
the highways will not be made on
an arbitrary calendar basis, but
only when structural weakness
dictates the need for protective
measures.
The procedure during the com
ing break-up period will, in gen
eral, he said, follow that of the
past seasons whereby each sec
tion of highway will be continual
ly evaluated and only those sec
tions weakened by the break-up
will be restricted to loads. Fur
theremore, he said, these restrict
tions will be held to the minimum
considered necessary to protect
the highway investment. The en
forcement of all restrictions is a
function of the Territorial Police
department.
The following is the experience
record of highway restrictions
during the past three years:
1954
Glenn Highway
April 2—50% and 30 MPH, An
chorage to Glenallen
April 17—Raised to 75% and 40
MPH, mile 118 to Eur
eka
May 7—Lifted, Anchorage to
Glennallen
Seward- Anchorage
April 3—50% and 35 MPH
May 5—Lifted, Anchorage to
Portage
75% and 40 MPH,
Portage to Seward
May 19—Lifted, Anchorage to
Seward
Sterling Highway
April 3—50% and 35 MPH
May 19—Lifted, Seward-Anch
orage Junction to Kas
ilof, 50%, Kasilof to
Homer
May 30—-Lifted
(Continued on page 8)
More Vocalists Needed
For Minstrel Chorus
Tenor and soprano voices
are needed for the Kiwanis
Minstrel Show, according to
Lloyd Morley, show chairman.
The first chorus rehearsal
was held this past Tuesday and
the need for additional voices
was discovered.
Anyone interested in sing
ing in this year’s Minstrel
Show chorus is urged to attend
the next rehearsal, scheduled
for 8 p.m. Tuesday night,
February 8, in the music room
at the Palmer Central School.
Potato Storage
Problems Being
Given Sharp Look
What causes spoilage of pota
toes in storage? How much loss
is there? What can be done
about it? How long can potatoes
be stored economically? What
does it cost to store them?
Men at the Experiment Station
are hunting answers to these
questions. They are trying to
find ways to improve Valley
storage conditions cheaply and
easily. Some of them are visit
ing Valley farms beginning this
week to get necessary information'
Diseases, mechanical injury,
kinds of cellars, temperature, and
humidity are among the condi
tions being studied.
Director Don Irwin says that
losses in storage eat up much of
the profits from raising potatoes.
In 1953 this alone amounted to
$250,000. “We hope we can help
farmers turn some of this loss to
profits and savings that can be
used for better living or for fur
ther farm development. We want
to help growers meet competi
tion”, Irwin: stated today.
Losses are caused by many
conditions. A variety of potato
harvesting and handling practices,
i ar.'d poor storage conditions all
contribute to spoilage of potatoes.
This survey will show which fac
tors are most responsible for po
tato losses. It should point out
inexpensive changes in equip
ment or methods which reduce
losses to Valley potato growers.
18 Palmer Educators
Attending Conference
Thirty-six Palmer School tea
chers, William Zahradnicek,
school superintendent, and Harry
Wimmer, high school principal,
are among the more than 500
teachers from 23 schools in West
ern Alaska who are attending the
third annual convention at the
Anchorage High School today and
tomorrow. Palmer schools will be
closed, for the two-day session,
along with many other schools
along the railbelt, to permit at
tendance at the convention.
Dr. I. James Quillen, dean of
the school of education, Stanford
University, will be principal
speaker during the session. Dr.
Quillen was an official of the
UNESCO Secretariat in Paris in
charge of a project to improve
textbooks and teaching materials.
Other speakers will include Dr.
William K. Keller, head of the
education department, and Dr.
Ivar Skarland, of the anthropo
logy department of the University
of Alaska.
The conference is being spon
sored by the Anchorage Education
Association.
A program planned by teachers
is designed to aid teachers in
“Enriching the Classroom”. Many
exhibits have been prepared to
illustrate the work being done in
classrooms. Sectional meetings
with concurrent sessions in vari
ous fields of interest also are part
of the program.
Announcement
Dr. E. E. Bach, Optometrist from Anchorage will
ije in Palmer to do eye examinations on
Tuesday, February 15.
For an appointment see Mrs. Maud Hosier at the Flower Shop
in the Co-Op Recreation Building or call her at 32J11
former Palmerites, Mr. and Mrs. Paul Haire and children
Donnie and Sheryle are pictured in their home in Spokane,
Washington. The happy occasion being celebrated in the
above picture is Donnie's fifth birthday. The Haires who
/ were making their home in the AHA housing area, left
for Spokane this Fall. Mrs. Haire and Donnie are receiving
therapeaut|c treatment, following attacks of poliomylitis this
summer. Sheryle, who also was afflicted, has recovered.
Although Donnie is not yet able to use his legs, he is
responding to treatment. Shirley, former Maianuska Valley
Bank employee, is also recovering well from her attack oj
polio. The family sends their best wishes to their many
Valley friends.
PROPOSED LEGISLATION OFFERED
BY DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE
With the 22nd session of Legis
lature now in progress, a review
of some of the agricultural legis
lation that may come up for con
sideration was recently furnish
ed by James Wilson, commission
er of Agriculture for the territory.
The recommendations which were
recently made by the Department
of Agriculture follows:
A complete overhaul of pres
ent livestock laws are needed.
Most of our present laws are in
adequate, outmoded or unreason
able. Under present laws it is
impossible for us to join the Fed
eral Government in their accel
erated campaign against Brucel
losis. (One territorial law impos
es a $500 fine for owning a dis
eased animal). The Department
of Agriculture has submitted re
vised laws to bring the Territory
up to date.
The present Grade Law should
include all agricultural products,
the Department feels. At present
the grade law applies only to
potatoes. The Department of Agri
culture has no authority to re
quire grading or labeling of other
commodities. The Grade Law
should also give the enforcement
agency the right to “enter and
inspect” premises where regula
ted items are handled for sale
and the power to issue “hold-tags”
on lots found to be in violation
to prevent their being sold when
the inspector leaves. At the pres
ent time the Department has no
authority except where “pests”
are involved.
Additional loan funds should
be appropriated and minor
amendments made to the Act. At
present, loans for permanent im
provements may be made only
when a first mortgage security
can be given. The limit on short
term loans should be extended
for periods up to one year. It
was further recommended that
loans to farmer groups should be
able to exceed the limit allowable
to an individual (up to three
times the amount).
An agricultural pest fund
should be created. It was sug
gested that $5,000 be appropriated
to create an agricultural pest
fund. Such fund would be able to
(Continued on page 8)
OPEN HOUSE SET
AT NEW HIGH SCHOOL
All residents of the Palmer
Independent School District
are invited to Open House at
the new Palmer High School
which will be held this coming
Sunday afternoon, February 6,
from 2:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Although there will prob
ably not be guides on hand
to show interested persons
through the building, everyone
is invited to attend during the
visiting hours and inspect the
million-dollar school which was
recently turned over to the
P. I. S. D. by the Alaska Public
Works. Coffee and cookies will
be served.
Beginning Tuesday, Febru
ary 8, equipment will be mov
ed in and classes will begin as
soon after the move as pos
sible.
PARC MEMBERSHIP
DRIVE TO BEGIN
The 1955 membership campaign
for the Palmer Area Recreation
Council will get under way
shortly, members of the local
group announced following the
quarterly membership meeting
held January 30.
Among projects accepted by the
group for the coming year is the
sponsoring of the Palmer Little
League program.
Norman Rousey, Prentiss Gaza
way, and David Porter were nam
ed to the Little League commit
tee. Bill Fogg will serve in an
advisory capacity.
Emil Ganschow, Don Ingalls,
Charles Wilson, John Weisenber
ger, Irene Cleworth and Midge
Hudgins were named to nominat
ing committee and will present
names for election of board mem
bers during the next membership
meeting, scheduled for April. Ac
cording to Council by-laws a to
tal of 15 members make up the
board of directors. Officers for
the Council are then elected by
(Continued on page 8)
»A/NA/WVVWWWWWVWVWVWWWW
Teachers’ Group
Urges Support in
Proposed Legislation
The request that Palmer teach
ers and their friends in the com
munity write to members of the
Territorial Board of Education
and the chairmen of the Legisla
tive Committee of Education in
the Senate and the House, urg
ing favorable consideration of
five basic articles of. legislation •
sponsored by the Alaska Educa
tion Association was made by
William W. Elliott, representing
the Legislative Committee of the
Palmer Education Association
during the association’s February
1 meeting.
The Alaska Education Associa
tion urges the favorage considera
tion of the following five' basic
articles of legislation): (1) Revis
ion of the Teachers’ Retirement
System on an actuarially sound
basis. (2) Adjustment of teachers’
and administrators’ salary sched
ules to provide for increased an
nual increments and further rec
ognition of advanced training.
(3) Granting of fiscal independ
ence to Independent and City
School Districts. (4) Sound legis
lation to provide for improved
care of the physically and ment
ally handicapped and for the
care and rehabilitation) of juven
ile delinquents. (5) Provision of
adequate appropriations for the
support of public schools and for
the operation of the Territorial
Department of Education.
Plan's were also discussed for
attending the annual Teachers’
Institute in Anchorage on! Thurs
day and Friday, February 3-and
4. Keith L. Stanton, association
president, presided at the meet
ing.
FARM FORUM
ENDS TONIGHT
Final sessions and panel dis
cussions at the Alaska Farm For
um being held in Palmer this
week, will be held today and to
night. Approximately 200 persons
are in attendance, surpassing es
timated figures by three-fold.
The enthusiastic group has recom
mended that the Forum be con
tinued as an annual event, sug
gesting that the Tanarta Valley
and Kenai Peninsula be included,
as meeting places. This is the
first conference of its kind ever
held in' the territory and was
sponsored by the Matanuska Val
ley Chamber of Commerce and
endorsed by the All-Alaska
Chamber of Commerce.
Participants in the sessions and
discussions are specialists in
their particular fields. Many new
and important innovations have
been presented during the For
um, with valuable suggestions of
fered for continued development
of territorial agriculture. Every
phase of agriculture will be
touched upon by the end of to
night’s sessions from dairy and
beef production to vegetables,
fruit and crop production. Mar
keting features and food process
ing have been highlighted—new
trends in management—soil and
crop sciences—farm management
and many additional subjects
have had thorough presentation
during the Forum.
Stewart Durrant, general man
ager of the Matanuska Valley
Farmers Cooperating Association
presided at the general session
this morning when! Col. Arthur
Bass of the Quartermaster Corps,
U. S. Army spoke on “The Milit
ary Consumer”. Larry Carr, presi
dent of Carrs’ Food Center in An
chorage spoke on “The Family
Consumer. This afternoon’s gen
eral session was presided over by
(Continued on page 4)
UNIVERSITY OFFICIAL
SPEAKS AT CHAMBER,
FORUM LUNCHEON
Close to 100 persons attended
the joint Matanuska Valley
Chamber of Commerce and Farm
Forum luncheon on Wednesday of
this week, and heard Dr. Ernest
Patty, University of Alaska presi
dent speak on the important role
agricultural research is playing
in the development of the terri
tory.
“Fifty-five percent of the total
agriculture is carried on here in
the Matanuska Valley”, President
Patty pointed out. “Much of the
scientific knowledge gained here
is being applied in other areas
such, as the Tanana Valley and the
Kenai Peninsula. I have great
faith in the development of the
Tanana Valley”, Patty added.
“Many things learned here will
be applied to similar problems in
other valleys.”
“Years ago”, the speaker re
minded listeners, “this was a new
valley with but a few homestead
ers. Important changes have tak
en place during the past 20 years.
Without research it might never
have amounted to much more
than the small garden stage”.
President Patty told of a visit
to the University this past sum
mer by two scientists from the
Rockerfeller Foundation. During
their visit the men predicted fu
ture potato trouble in the Matan
uska and Tanana- Valleys when
disease will become incipient. “It
is a foettr idea to head this off
before it becomes rampant”,
Patty pointed out. The Foundation
has offered to send a potato
specialist to the territroy this
summer who would assist in soil
research. Patty pointed out that
many experiments that are prac
tical now might not he useful 10
years from now. Many others do
not prove themselves for 10-15
years. “Insect struggles are ham
pered by blights, diseases and
other eliments. Man has develop
ed good plants and new insecti
cides in his struggles to fight
maggots, grasshoppers and other
crop destroying insects.”
A three-fold increase ifl crop
production in the territory since
1910 has been possible Patty point
ed out, by operating under the
American way of life, with public
support of colleges, private busi
ness, modern machinery, electri
cal energy, good seeds and chemi
cals and proper credit facilities.
Other visitors introduced by
Chamber President Everett Ad
ams were Dr. and Mrs. George
D. Scarseth. Dr. Scarseth is re
search director of the American
Farm Research Administration.
Also Dr. W. H. Beeson, State
side agricultural scientist, and his
daughter Joan Beeson; George
Gasser, pioneer farmer from Fair
banks; George Jackson, Anchor
age Chamber of Commerce presi
dent, and Lee Fryer of the Char
les H. Lilly Co. of Seattle.
Palmer residents drawn for pe
tit jury duty were William J.
Bouwens and Thomas Moffitt.
Have you though of getting
one of the smart short hair
styles? We Make Evening
Appointments
Valley Beauty Shop
CO-OP SHOPPING AREA
Vermiculite—Black Magic
African Violet Magic
Fertilizer for tired house plants
Tuberous Begonia & Gloyima
Bulbs
Telegraph Delivery Service
Matanuska Valley Gardens
Phone 32J11 Palmer
BASKETBALL Cordova Clamdiggers vs. Elks Hayshakerc
Two Double Headers... Friday & Saturday Girls’ games al 8 P.M. — Boys’ Games at 9 P.M;