Palmer Must Wait for Chlorination
And Be Thankful for Plain Water
Palmer residents cannot expect
much improvement in their water
until the new city water system
is in operation, it was revealed
last week Thursday at the Health
Council round table discussion
on the possibility of chlorination
and fluoridation of the water
supply.
James A. Westbrook, assistant
director of the Division of Sani
tation and Engineering, Alaska
Department of Health, said that
it was not feasible economically
for the Co-Op to try to chlorinate
the present water supply because
of the varying rates of water in
take. With the several methods of
water purification available to
the individual householder, he
indicated that people could easily
get by until the new water sys
tem is completed.
Questioned about the need for
turning off water in the Palmer
School, Westbrook said there was
little to be gained by such action
since the water is usually good
—particularly in comparison with
Anchorage’s water. However, he
did think that the occasional
presence of bacteria in the water
was serious enough to warrant
remedial action at the school.
Technical possibilities for puri
fying the school water without
having to resort to paper cups
were discussed by City Council
man Allan Mick, Ivan Branton,
and Westbrook. It was decided
that the three men would con
tact the School Board and try to
work out something for the next
school year.
In his discussion of the city’s
new water system, Councilman
Mick stated that it would probab
ly be in use by the fall of 1953. He
said that a chlorination system
has been included in the plans
and all other phases of water sup
ply and distribution have been
approved by the Alaska Depart
ment of Health. He gave credit
to the Co-Op for cooperating with
the city by extending its lines to
a new source of supply. Whereas
this time last year we were
lucky to Have any water, he said,
local residents this year have no
lack of water even though there
are bits of organic matter present ■
occasionally. Because of this suf
ficient supply of water, only one
case of frozen pipes was reported
this spring, he added.
Fluoridation
The possibility of adding fluo
ridation treatment in the new
water supply was discussed by
Westbrook and Dr. George Whet
stone of the quaity of w'ater
branch of U. S. Geological Sur
vey. After Whetstone stated that
there wTas almost no natural
flourine present in water in this
area, Westbrook added that fluo
nation was approved by the Alas
ka Department of Health and
about 25 national public health,
medical, dental, research, and hy
giene groups, all of which he
named. He feared, however, that
the cost for a small town might
not be feasible at this time. He
said initial equipment would cost
several hundred dollars at the
outset and operating cost would
add a yearly cost per person of
four to 14 cents. It was pointed
out that topical fluoride treat
ment application to the teeth by
the dentist) costs $15 for a series,
which must be repeated every
three years to be effective. At
this rate, topical fluoride protec
tion for the 600 children now in
school would have cost or would
eventually amount to a total ex
penditure of $27,000 for three
series each. Because of the indi
vidual cost, it was admitted, few
children in the community are
receiving this protection. West
brook pointed out that fluorida
tion of the water would be of no
help to anyone over eight years
of age, that it would help only
those children whose teeth are
in the process of formation. Stud
ies over a period cf years have
shown that such children have
received lasting benefit from this
w'ater treatment.
The Health Council decided to
continue the study of the fluori
dation possibility by sending for
a newly published bulletin which
consolidates most of the avail
able information on the subject.
PALMER SCHOOL
PRESENTS SPRING
CONCERT SATURDAY
Headlining week-end activities
in the Valley this week is the
Palmer School’s annual Spring
Concert, Saturday night at 8 p.m.
in the school gymnasium.
Featured on the program will
be the school band, under the
direction of John Zawalnicki. and
the chorus, directed by Miss Lois
rhompson.
For Bandleader Zawalnicki
this concert will possibly be his
first and last in Palmer, since it
CONSERVATION
NOTES
LEW E. HANKS
It’s finally spring time in Alas
ka. The grass isn’t green, the
trees aren’t in leaf, the birds
"ain't" singing and the cold wind
still keeps blowing; but it's
spring anyway. I know it's spring
because farmers have started to
plant crops.
Sipeaking of farmers—there's
one thing that bothers me. Too
many people in this old world,
especially in Alaska, and even
some hr the Matanuska Valley
don l know this is a farming
country. Maybe it’s the effect of
spring fever, but I want to tell
you—don't ever sell farming in
Alaska short. Long after the Sal
mon fisheries are a thing of the
past and gold mining is only a
memory this will be a prosperous
area because we’re producing
crops from the soil. We have a
lot of things to contend with,
sure. We have a lot of land to
clear. We might think we will
never get the job done but I’ll bet
the cornfields of Illinois and the
bluegrass pastures of Kentucky
looked pretty rough a couple of
lifetimes ago.
Speaking of lifetimes, my hat
is off to the Alaska homesteader.
He only ties up one lifetime when
he starts to carve a home for
himself and family out of the
brush. There are a lot of farmers
here doing just that, and they’re
making a go of it too.
No one is giving them anything
they don’t work for either. You
work your land, plant your crops
and pray for rain just like farm
ers do anywhere else. Then if
you are lucky you make and
market your crop, pay back the
money you borrowed at 8% and
put the rest into improvements
for the farm. If you didn’t have
good luck no one is going to bail
you out just to prove that farm
ing can be done in Alaska. It’s
just tough in that case. We raise
the best tasting crops in the
world. According to the Experi
ment Station, we also raise some
of the most nutritious.
Let’s get to planting and pray
ing.
was learned this week that he has
resigned his position and will not
return next year.
Tost's Service
GENERAL REPAIRS
All Make Cars
Gales tires, lubes and batteries
All size TRUCK TIRES
DOWNTOWN PALMER
Chitna Limousine Service
LEAVES PALMER FOR VALDEZ
10:45 a. m. each Monday (leaves Anchorage ai 8:15 a. m.)
RETURNS TO PALMER AND ANCHORAGE
8:30 a. m. Tuesday
LEAVES PALMER FOR CHITINA
10:45 a. m. each Thursday (leaves Anchorage ai 8:15 a. m.)
RETURNS TO PALMER AND ANCHORAGE
8:30 a. m. Friday
ALL THROUGH ONE-DAY SERVICE—NO STOP OVERS
CHECK THESE AMAZING FACTS!
CLARITE, the atomic age BATTERY
an ATOMIC GIANT of electric energy
SAVES WORRY_even if you forget and leave car lights
or radio on all night—in the morning just turn them off—
wait a few minutes—start your car. SELF-RECOVERY . . . .
run battery down so lights and radio will not work. CLARITE
will revive in 60 seconds. GUARANTEE .... Only CLARITE
Battery alone dares to guarantee for 3 FULL YEARS—the first
year, unconditionally. The prorated period does not begin until
you have used the CLARITE for a full 12 months.
GRASSER'S
HARDWARE &
SPORTING GOODS
OPEN THURSDAY TO 8 P.M.—CLOSED SATURDAY NITES
***********************************************
Palmer and Anchorage
Student Couniils to
Have Joint Session
Ail Palmer High School Stu
dent Council representatives will
travel to Anchorage Friday for a
joint session of the two councils
Representatives will be assign
ed to different discussion groups,
and each individual group will
discuss a certain topic or problem
of one of the schools. Some of the
topics which are to be discussed
are football, student handbook,
student activity card, ideas for
making money, and the problem
of parties after school game.
The Anchorage Student Coun
cil has planned an evening pro
gram which includes a banquet
and a “get-together" dance. Pal
mer students will leave for An
chorage early Friday morning
and return after the evening pro
gram.
LITTLE LEAGUERS, TURN
IN THOSE TICKETS STUBS
Little League baseball players
and others were reminded this
week by Jack Leek to be sure
and turn in all their ticket stubs
at Grasser’s Hardware by 4 o’
clock Saturday afternoon. The
Winchester rifle will be award
ed at Moose Hall Saturday night. 1
..
OFFICE EQUIPMENT
ACCOUNTINO FORMS
OFFICE SUPPLIES
; M
1
_________________________ I
Everything
for the Office
Expert Office
Machine Repairs
COMMERCIAL
STATIONERS
Rood Bldg., Opp. Fadaral Bldg.
Dial 30515—Anchoraga, Alaska
NURSES' ASSOCIATION
TO HOLD CONVENTION
The first annual convention u
the Alaska Nurses' Assoc .iti ■
will be held in Seward. Alask.
Thursday and Friday. May 2
and 23. it was announced thi
Aeek hy F. H Blue. publuiM
chairman
Registered nurses wishing I
attend the convention can cd ful
details by writing Miss Edna I
RETURNS FROM FAIRBANKS
Mi-- V tna Wi hkit f RE \
letuinH t i Pal’i.ri Tiii l,.\ t \>
mint I llmvim \ \\< i k trip t>
, Fiiirlunk- v, I < In' ■, ■ m,
nut with the «! , - i Vu!If>: Eli.
1 tr.e As-w .'i*. *n
Due. I? N . S : i Snrtn*■ • i"
Ilai tl< tt Aii - i
COFFEY INSURES
EVERYTHING! REMEMBER?
need traveling out of your way to pay bills.
No need to worry about receipts, when a
cancelled check is your record.
All in all, owning a checking account is good
business. And besides, it's so easy !o begin
Come in today, and in a few minutes you can
be the proud owner of this modern conven
ience . . . this symbol of success and good
standing.
MATANUSKA VALLEY BANK
Palmer. Alaska
OPEN FRIDAY EVENINGS 5-7 P.M.
DAILY 10 A.M.—3 P.M.
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