Alaska Steam Asks
Governor’s Aid In
Pending Strike
Seeking to avoid the “disas
trous consequences” of. a long
shoremen’s strike, the Alaska
Steamship Co. has appealed to
Gov. Ernest Gruening for assist
ance
The strike is called for June
15 unless a wage increase of 30
cents an hour with pensions and
benefits is met
“Our immediate problem is—
shall we resist the Union’s present
demand to the point where a
strike results, or shall we' give
in?” the letter to the governor
reads “If we resist, we presume
you will charge us with ineffici
ency and if we give in we pre
sume you will charge us with be
ing wasteful.
“We would appreciate con
structive suggestions now rather
than criticism later”.
The letter, signed by D. E.
Skinner, president, says the rate
increase recently asked by the
Alaska Steamship Co. did not
take into account new demands
by the Union.
“In bringing this to your at
tention we are conscious of the
disastrous consequences which
would necessarily acompany dis
ruption of water transportation
service to and from the Territory,
especially in these critical times.
We also recognize that another
round of wage increases would
be detrimental to the Territory’s
present important activities as
well as to its economy general
ly”, the letter states.
The letter cites the governor’s
opposition to rate inceases.
May Crowning
At St. Michaels
More than 60 children, mem
bers of St. Michael’s church Sun
day school, will participate Sun
day morning in the procession to
the Shrine of the Blessed Virgin
Mary for the annual May crown
ing ceremony.
White veils will be worn by the
girls and lighted white tapers car
ried by the boys. Holding a white
satin pillow, upon which will rest
a garland of spring flowers, Miss
Shirley Zaborac will head the
procession. The statue will be
crowned by Miss Vickaryous of
Wasilla. This special Mothers’
Day ceremony will precede the
regular Sunday mass at 10 a.m.
The Rev. Father James Snead,
pastor of St. Micheal’s church,
will preside.
Musical selections of an appro
priate nature will be presented
by the church choir and will in
clude solos by Paul Martin. Mrs.
Henning Blunck, organist, will be
assisted by Mrs. Bouvvens.
Master of ceremonies will be
Joseph E. Hudock, who has been
in charge of the planning for the
procession and the training of the
children.
Decoration of the shrine has
been carried out by David Al
garin.
This ancient ceremony of the
church held during the month of
May for centuries will be of add
ed significance this year due to
the fact that it is being held on
Mothers’ Day and will honor the
Blessed Virgin Mary as queen of
all mothers.
"BIGGEST CELEBRATION YET"
PLANNED FOR COLONY DAY
I
Colony Day celebration plans
for May 26-27 move swiftly for
ward, commemorating the time
when the first colonists arrrived
in the almost unknown Matanus
ka Valley.
From an emergency tent town
of those few years ago has been
built a thriving and stalwart com
1 nunity which crystallized its
progress when citizens of Palmer
voted for incorporation April 10,
1951.
Noting this progress, the Mat
inuska Valley Chamber of Com
merce is preparing for the big
gest celebration in its history.
Heading the planning committee
is Don Irwin, chairman, with Bill
Head, Carl Rasmussen, Steve
Ward, Eugene Kirsch and others
in charge of special events.
Swift drive for financing is
bringing prompt returns, Steve
Ward, finance chairman, says.
Last year hundreds of visitors
poured into Palmer for the cele
bration. Income to merchants
and businessmen, aside from cel
ebration intake, was “consider
able”.
City and Co-Op—
(Continued from Page 1)
on actual construction as soon as
possible.
Early meeting next week will
be held by council committeemen
Mick and Hagen, and the com
mittee appointed by the Co-Op,
Rasmussen, Roy Brock and Rex
Kibbe.
In earlier discussions with the
council this week, Rasmussen said
he has no authority to act, and
decision would be up to the Co-Op
board, but he outlined current
problems of water supply.
Sources of water are available
with plenty of pressure if addi
tional pipe lines are run to con
nect with Co-Op lines, he said.
Pipe for that purpose which
would serve only temporarily
could be borrowed. Six inch as
bestos and cement pipe “which
will last 100 years” can be pur
chased at reasonable cost, he add
ed.
The pipe line to the proposed
tap creek crosses land which be
longs to ARRC.
“Would tapping that water
source hurt the farmers?” Hagen
o^ked.
“No, there would be plenty of
water,” Rasmussen assured.
A dam could be installed and
che land purchased, he thought.
Asked what such a pipe line
might cost, he guessed between
$8,000 and $10,000.
As to financing Rasmussen said
definitely the Co-Op will bear no
part of the expenses. Any im
provement on the line must be
paid by the city.
“The Co-Op has enough water
for our own use and we furnish
jnly surplus—I think part of the
had conditions in Palmer are due
to the lines in town, leaks, burst
pipes and users hooking on.” He
estimated there are more than 200
users on the present system. Fail
ure of water supply, he explained
is due to the fact the water level
is far below normal.
Carl Caldwell, engineer for
Thomas S. Bourne Associates of
Alaska—asked by the City Coun
cil for cost figures on an edequate
water system—estimated it would
cake at least $500,000 for a com
plete distribution system from a
sufficient water supply source
and for sewage.. Of this about
This year even bigger crowds
are anticipated as news of the
events planned goes out to neigh
boring cities and communities.
The Chamber of Commerce plans
extensive promotion, James Hur
ley, president, said.
Governor Invited
Gov. Ernest Gruening has been
invited.
Palmer’s first mayor and city
council will be spotlighted. There
will be horseracing, bands, a
Grange sponsored dance, probably
an air circus from Elmendorf Air
Base, sports, games, contests and
parades.
Irwin has received word that
the University collection of rare
photographs of the Klondike era
will be on exhibit.
A special train from Anchorage
is being slated. Caravans of cars
from other communities are ex
pected. Early tourists from Out
side have expressed interest in
seeing the famed Matanuska Val
ley.
Cooperating merchants are pos
ting signs in their windows. Val
ley sportsmen and talent will par
ticipate in staging the program.
CITY DICKERING
ON STREET GRADERS
Palmer’s City Council now has
a street problem.
Since the Alaska Road Com
mission now has discontinued all
maintenance of city streets, the
Mayor and Council believe they
have found a way to obtain two
graders under a “lend-lease”
plan, they said today.
$180,000 would be required to ex
tend service in Palmer.
He recommended that a gravity
line from Wasilla Creek, while
costing more to install, would in
the long run prove the most ef
ficient and economical.
Caldwell recommended $40,000
for a planning fund. The Council
passed a resolution to make ap
plication at once to the Alaska
Public Works for that amount.
(For the City Council’s proposal
to the Co-Op see page 1).
Leaders of 4-H Clubs will meet
at the home of Miss Mary Lou
Lashbook, home demonstation
agent, May 14 at 8 p.m.
Hard hit by inflation many of
the fairer sex find it difficult to
cover their bareness with the
bare necessities.
V<<<<<<<<<<<<< <<<<<<<<<-<-,
«««««««««««««««««■««<■
FOR HER . . .
# Electric Roasters
# Chrome & Leather
Kitchen Stools
# Electrolux
# Mix-Masters
GRASSER'S
HARDWARE A
SPORTING GOODS
■»-»■>»■>■> >>>>>>>>> »>•> > > > > > > » >>>>>>->■>>>>>>>>>>>»,
COMMUNITY
CALENDER
SATURDAY. MAY 12
ALL DAY BAKE SALE, Women
of the Moose, Grasser’s Hard
ware Store. i
TRACK MEET, Anchorage vs. J
Palmer, at Fairgrounds.
JUNIOR-SENIOR PROM, school
gym
SUNDAY, MAY 13
BACCALAUREATE SERVICE,
school gym, 8 p.m.
PUBLIC ADDRESS, by N. H.
Knorr at New Carpenters’ Hall, i
Anchorage, 3 p.m.
. MONDAY, MAY 14
PROSPECTIVE MOTHERS class,
Health Center, 2-3 p.m.
KIWANIS CLUB, regular dinner
6:30 p.m. Ladies’ night.
VETERANS’ TRAINING CLASS,
Co-Op club room 8 p.m.
EVENING CRAFT CLUB, mem
ber’s home, 8 p.m.
TUESDAY, MAY 15
MOOSE, WOMEN of the Moose,
8 p.m.
WELL BABY CLINIC, Health
Center 2-4 p.m.
BOY SCOUT meeting, United
Protestant church 7 p.m.
WEDNESDAY. MAY 16
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,
regular meeting Co-Op club
room 12:05. i
THURSDAY, MAY 17
AMERICAN LEGION artd Auxil
iary. Carp, hall 8 p.m.
HEALTH COUNCIL, Council
room 7 p.m.
SCHOOL PICNIC, grades 1-6.
LET US HANDLE YOUR
UPHOLSTERING NEEDS
USED FURNITURE BOUGHT
AND SOLD
G. A. KRISE
Basemen! Palmer Drug
PUBLIC LANDS
MAY BE USED FOR
DOCKS, WHARFS
Legislation has been introduced
which would authorize the Sec
retary of the Interior, in his dis
cretion, to issue leases or permits
for the use of public lands in Al
aska for dock, wharf and landing
site purposes.
At present the Secretary may
grant use of public lands for this
purpose only within shore-space
reservations.
The bill seeking expanded
rights was introduced by Con
gressman Bentsen of Texas at the
request of the Department of the
Interior.
FRIDAY. MAY 18
COMMENCEMENT exercises, at
school gym 8 p.m. *
PanPialtl
BY APPOINTMENT ONLY
RAY ADAMS
You Get'
All the
ADVANTAGES
Fine Food
Wonderful meal* aboard
ship are Included in your
fare — there are no
“extra*" on The Alaska
line.
Relax deep in an
easy chair ... or
join in shipboard
recreation. Com
fort is king on
The Alaska
Line.
You'll sleep un
troubled . . . with
the all-weather
protection of
modern radar.
When
TtzveK:
ALASKA LINE |
Chas. Nelson, Agent,
Palmer. Alaska.
Tel. 14Y2
I
ALASKA
STEAMSHIP COMPANY
Seiuuu?