See
"Shangri-la, Alaska"
al Valley Theater
Tuesday, June 10
Sponsored by Palmer Library As.
VOL. V. NO. 39
PALMER. ALASKA, THURSDAY. JUNE 5. 1952
try a frontiersman
CLASSIFIED AD for
item you may have for sale,
rent or lease.
PRICE TEN CENTS
Sportsmen Protest Ban on Salmon Fishing
World Around Us
IN CORDOVA this week-end
Republicans of the Territory will
meet for the Alaska convention.
It has been called to form a Ter
ritorial platform and name offic
ers of the Central Committee as
well as elect four committeemen
and four committeewomen. Eisen
hower supporters may try to gain
control of the convention and
protest selection of three pro
Taft delegates to the National
Convention, although Third Div
ision delegate goes uninstructed.
M. D. Snodgrass will represent ai
the convention the most solid Re
publican stronghold of the Terri
tory, the Matanuska Valley. This
week he was distributing “I Like
Ike” buttons.
Rse‘amene-R
* * *
- t*»*
IN FORT YUKON tons of ice
started racing toward the Bering
Sea last Thursday, May 22, at 8:57
pm. as the Yukon River—finally
—broke up. This was the latest
recorded date for the break-up
on which the Alaska Crippled
Children’s Association guessing
contest is based. Stanley Solo
mon of Fairbanks was the lucky
guesser this year.
« * •
IN BETHEL a new 58-bed hos
pital will rise this summer to
take the place of the one which
burned there last fall. The hos
pital is being built by the Bureau
of Indian Affairs. A Seattle called
► Contractors was awarded a $1,
944,900 contract recently for con
struction of the hospital.
• • •
IN GLEN ALLEN there will be
a new two-room school building
next fall. Plans include teachers’
living quarters. Bids will be open
ed soon by the Housing and Home
Finance Agency at the office of
Edwin B. Crittenden, architect,
in Anchorage. Funds for the new
school were provided under
federal Bill 815.
* • •
IN ANCHORAGE Tuesday at j
the First Presbyterian Church ;
Rev. Harry Gayley gave the fun
eral sermon for the mother and
four children who died in a cabin
fire six miles southeast of that
city last Thursday. The dead were
Mrs. William McLean, 27, and
her two children, Barbara Jo, 2,
and Tommy, nine months; and
Eddie Null, 7, and Tommy Ray '
Null, 6.
* * •
IN KETCHIKAN last Thursday
the Rev. Walter A. Soboleff, a
native Indian of Alaska, was
elected moderator of the Wash
ington Presbyterian Synod, which
includes the Alaskan and Yukon ,
Presbyteries. His election marked \
the first time in the 63-year his- ,
tory of the Synod that a native ;
Indian has been elected to the i
high poet. He has been paster ol (
Memorial Presbyterian Church at |
Juneau since his ordination in i
1M0.
RFC GRANTS
$425,775 LOAN
FOR BUFFALO MINE
The Seattle branch of the Re
construction Finance Corporator
announced this week its authori
zation of a $425,775 for the Buf
falo Mine Corporation.
The long awaited confirmation
of the loan opens the way to tht
addition of another much-needea
source of coal in the Matanusks
coal field. Located about 12 miles
north of Palmer on Moose Creek,
the Buffalo mine has been closed
down since a production spurt
during the war years. Prospecting
on the Buffalo property was start
ed in 1939 by Frank Colobuffalo
and Fred Spach.
In Palmer yesterday, Archie
Browning, who has been named
superintendent of the Buffalo
Mine operations, said that nothing
could be revealed at this time
about production plans. These
plans, he said, will hinge on a sur
vey of the mine property, which
will be begun Monday, and cer
tain legal technicalities in con
nection with the loan.
Browning recently completed
four and one-half years of experi
ence as mining foreman at the
Jonesville mine. He has been
associated with coal mining en
terprises in Scotland, Canada, and
the United States during his en
tire productive life. Before com
ing to Alaska, he was engaged in
coal mining for the Anaconda
Copper Company in Montana
20 years and the Great Northern
Company in Montana for five:
years.
LOTTSA CARS,
MUCH TRAFFIC,
NO ACCIDENTS
No accidents were reported
over the Memorial Day week
end in this area by the High
way Patrol despite a huge
upsurge in traffic.
The Highway Patrol report
ed a very safe and sane holi
day for the Matanuska Valley
area, while the highest Mem
orial Day week-end traffic
toll ever was recorded in the
States.
The local record is all the
more remarkable considering
the Alaska Road Commission’s
indisputable record of traffic.
A counter was stretched across
one end of the Matanuska
Bridge early Saturday morn
ing and removed Monday
morning. In that 48-hour peri
od, according to Oliver Onkka,
local foreman of ARC, 6,410
passed over the bridge. This
represents an average of 134
cars per hour or more than
two a minute.
Low Bid $352,147
For Construction of
City Water System
A telegram from Don Wilson of
the Alaska Public Works head
quarters in Juneau this morning
revealed a low bid of $352,147 re
ceived at yesterday’s bid open
ing for construction of Palmer’s
new water supply and distribu
tion system.
The apparent low bidder was
the Johnson Construction and
Maintenance Company of An
chorage.
The telegram contained no in
formation regarding the number
of bids received for construction ;
of the project, but it is believed
that at least one other bid was j
submitted by a Palmer construe- ]
; tion firm. 1
The $52,147 bid, if accepted, is j
| more than $50,000 under the ■
$405,900 allocated for construction l
i of the water system. Although it
j is still too early to speculate, the <
| favorable bid may raise the City 1
; Council hopes for construction of 1
the city sewer system concurrent- ^
ly with that of the water distribu- (
tion system. The sewer project ^
has been approved and the final i
plans are nearly complete, but c
I no money has been allocated yet i
! by APW for its construction. c
Congressmen Balk a
Irate House committeemen
reared in pious indignation over
a proposal to increase the author
ization of the Eklutna Project
from $20,365,400 to $35,000,000
this week. Although the need for
the increase has been well known
ever since the tunnel,, bids were
opened last summer, the solons
protested against the practice of
putting them in the position of
okaying more money or junking
a project already begun. Hints
of such a junking of the 30,000
kilowatt project were inherent
in a demand that the Bureau of
Reclamation prepare a statement
showing how much money would
be spent by the government on
the Eklutna Project “if every ex
isting contract were cancelled.”
The demand was made as the
House Interior subcommittee re
cessed the hearing abruptly. The
committeemen also asked for a
detailed breakdown showing the
cost estimates that served as a
basis for the original $20 million
authorization.
Byrun G. Felkner, Eklutna
Project construction engineer re
vealed this week that the original
authorization was based on an
unrealistic cost differential be
tween Stateside and Alaskan con
struction costs.
A change in the location of the
tunnel intake and foundation dif
ficulties boosted the original cost
l
s
r
t
t
i
a
a
n
c
P
n
e
ti
tl
b
ii
T
e<
v.
k
rr
e:
T
si
si
P
ai
y
ti
P
lc
ei
di
Pi
ly
I2TH ANNUAL FAIR
DATES SET FOR
LABOR DAY WEEK-END
The twelfth annual Matanuska
Valley Fair will be held August
30, 31 and September 1, it was
decided Tuesday night at the first
meeting of the Fair Board.
As usual, the three-day Fair
will coincide with the Labor Day
week end.
The meeting held Tuesday
night was an organizational
meeting for the new board. Of
ficers elected included A1 Hagen,
nresident: Henning Blunk, vice
president: A1 Brooks, secretary;
ind Ben Hudgins, treasurer. The
Doard also named M. D. Snod
>rass, retiring board member, an
lonorary ex-officio member of
his year’s board. Snodgrass will
dso have full charge of all ad
vertising sales and solicitations
or the 1952,Fair premium book.
The Fair Board decided to meet
‘very Tuesday night at Recrea
ion Hall for the next two months.
'Text week Tuesday, the budget
vill be set up for the 1952 Fair.
)n Tuesday, June 17, the board
vill meet with all the Fair super
ntendents and assistants. Any
me else who wishes to take part
n this year’s Fair will be wel
omed cordially at this meeting.
r Eklutna Costs
>y about five million, Bureau
pokesmen, told the House com
litteemen. According to Felkner,
he change in the intake permit
sd more storage in the lake. Or
jinally 123,000 acre-feet of stor
ge was provided; the new plans
llow for 160,000 acre-feet. This
leans that that much more water
an be saved to run through the
ower plant, thus raising the
umber of kilowatt hours of firm
lergy that can be produced. In
ms of the original investment,
le project appears to cost more;
ut in terms of returns on the
ivestment, the extra expense is
istified, according to Felkner.
he Eklutna Project head reveal
i that the originally estimated
holesale price of eight mils per
Jowatt had been raised to 10
ils per kilowatt since the cost
itimate was adjusted upward,
his wholesale price, he said, is
ill very low in comparison with
earn power, but sale of Eklutna
iwer at the 10 mil price will
nortize the project cost in 50
;ars and still take care of opera
Dn and maintenance during that
:riod.
The suspense should not last
ng. By July 1, Congress will
ther have to authorize the ad
tional money or close down the
oject. Although it is admitted
within the realm of possibility
(Continued on page 8)
Petitions to Seek Lifting of FWS
Closed-Area Rule in Knik Arm Drainage
Sudden recognition of the tru
intent and implications of tw
paragraphs of the new Fish am
Wildlife Service regulations ef
fective July 1 brought to th
Sportsmen’s Association meetinj
in Recreation Hall last night ,
determined group of people ben
on lifting the virtual ban on sal
mon fishing in the entire Knil
Arm drainage.
The pertinent paragraphs in th<
new regulations are 109.51 and i
May 7 amendment to paragrapl
102.51, both pertaining to salmot
fishing. The 109.51 paragrapl
reads “Closed Waters”. Fishinj
for, taking or molesting any fisl
by any means or for any pur
pose. is prohibited in all water;
of: (a) All streams tributary tc
Knik Arm; (b) Willow Creek, tri
I butary to the Susitna River . . .'
( Paragraph 102.51, as amended
reads as follows: "Prohibited with
Commercial Gear; exceptions
Within any regulatory area, dist
rict or section, all fishing for per
sonal use with gillnet, seine, or
trap shall be subject to the laws
and regulations governing com
mercial fishing during the period
starting 48 hours before the open
ing of a commercial season for
such gear and continuing until
48 hours after its close: Provided
that bona fide personal use fish
ing will be permitted at all times
on the Yukon River and at any
[ place which is at a distance great
er than 25 miles by most direct
measurement from waters legal
ly open to commercial fishing.”
As explained at the Sports
nfen’s meeting, the first regula
tion would make of the entire
Knik Arm drainage and popular
Willow Creek a completely closed
area as far as salmon fishing is
CALL FOR BIDS
ON NEW HOSPITAL
CONSTRUCTION
Hospital Manager O. K.
Kincaid announced this week;
that Region 10 of the U. S.:
Public Health Service has put!
the final okay on the plans for !
the new Valley Presbyterian !;
Hospital and has authorized!:
immediate advertisement for!
bids on its construction.
The bid notice appears in
the classified section of to
day’s Frontiersman. It also ap-;
pears this week in Anchorage;
and Seattle newspapers. Bids
will be opened on July 14 in
Palmer.
The contract will be award
ed within 30 days of the open- !
ing date. It calls for a com
pletion date within 485 days
of the date the contract a
Chill Winds and Dust Mar 3-Day Settlers Celebration
A relentless wind hid the skies
■vith a somber screen of dust and
lid its best to ruin the three-day
Settlers’ Celebration at the Fair
Grounds last week end, but it
iidn’t quite succeed.
Hardy settlers of the Matan
lska Valley and their guests from
Anchorage and nearby military
installations were present in large
lumbers even though the chilly
itmosphere put a slight damper
m their pursuit of fun and enter
ainment Chamber of Commerce
President O. K. Kincaid reported
hat more than l,2t0 barbecue
sandwiches were handed out to
hose who cued up far the annual
bee attraction. There wu still
i tone line ef dtsippsiatod guests
when the last scraps were gone
Beef Well Done
The barbecue was deemed the
most successful ever held at the
Fair Grounds. At a half hour be
fore the appointed time, the
choice Matanuska beef was pro
nounced “done to a turn.” For
Jim Hurley, Ed Smith, and Clar
ence Bell, this moment was the
climax of many long hours ol
almost ritualistic preparations.
In spite of the wind, the delicious
aroma from ' the barbecue pit
drifted over the Fair Grounds.
Assisting in slicing the beef was
Jade Rabb of Kosloaky's meat de
partment Kay Pipfd, Hertha
Beyers, LudUe Wimmer, Lucille
Jfkk, Dosotlqr 8axten, Rhrera HI*
Wer, Jeanne Kuoppola, Norma
Hichards, Waldo Fox, and Bill
Hoskins helped in making, sack
ing and passing out the generous
ly-filled sandwiches. One thous
and, two hundred sandwiches
were made and distributed with
in an hour and there wasn’t a
“rare” one in the lot.
Entertainment planned by the
celebration committee went off
according to schedule although
the first attraction had to be
shifted to Valley Theater Satur
day afternoon. That was the 43rd
Army Band concert. Nearly 200
persons enjoyed the lively one*
hear oeerion in spite of the lest
miaate change in location.
Led by CWO WUhan *.Spfeh»
a1, the 34-piece band showed its
versatility with a program in
cluding marches, “Boogie Woo
gie,” and semi-classical numbers.
Vocal soloists were Cpl. Dick
Kraus and Pvt. Bay Russet The
popular band plays at numerous
concerts and celebrations in the
Anchorage area. It is also much
in demand for dances on the post
WSen Gregory Peck comes to An
chorage June 19 for the world
premiere of "A World in His
Arms," the band will accompany
his party on a short tour of Alee*
e
0
d
e
g
a
it
k
e
a
ti
1
i
1
s
>
1
i
1
i
i
concerned. The second regula
tion. as amended, would amount
to a double ban on net fishing
for personal use in the Knik Arm
area, since this area is within 25
miles of the northern boundary
of the Cook Inlet commercial
fishing grounds. McKenzie Point,
where Knik Arm flows out into
Cook Inlet, it was said marks
this northern boundary. Since the
commercial fishing season began
last Friday, there will be no op
portunity this year to net salmon
before the season even if the
109.51 paragraph were disregard
ed. With the extension of the
commercial fishing season for gill
nets to September 10, there would
be little possibility of netting red
salmon after the close of the 1952
season. Few salmon remain in
these waters after that date.
The restrictions of paragraph
109.51 applied originally to all
streams and lakes in the Kenai
Peninsula tributary to Cook In
let. Somehow sportsmen in that
area gained advance notice of the
new regulation. They banned to
gether and protested. The net re
sult was the May 7 amendment
to the paragraph applicable only
to the Kenai Peninsula which
adds: “Provided that this (closed
waters restriction) shall not apply
to fishing with hand rod, hook
and line for personal use.” This
amendment, if applied to the
Knik Arm drainage would per
■ mit sport fishing, but it.-would
eliminate the possibility of get
ting reds, humpies, or chums for
the family larder because they
don’t bite.
Resolution Formulated
Aiming at an amendment that
would permit sport fishing and
fishing for home use the Matanus
ka Valley Sportsmen adopted a
resolution which will be sent to
Secretary of Interior Chapman,
Delegate E. L. Bartlett, and sever
al others with authority to ini
tiate or aid in the desired action. ;
Skipping the whereases, the re
solution reads:
“Now therefore be it resolved:
That we protest this regulation
(109.51) as without basis of fact
as proper conservation control
regulation and will deprive the
homesteader, the farmer and the
home owner and residents of the
proposed closed area of fish for
their families, thereby causing
undue hardship upon them.
“And be it further resolved:
That in this regular meeting held
in Palmer, Alaska, June 4. 1952,
that we go on record requesting:
“1. That regulations be made
that will permit fishing for home
use in the upper Cook Inlet and
Knik Arm area.
“2. That the sport fishing for
(Continued on page 8)
LOVE BRIGHT DIAMONDS