PUBLISHED IN THE INTERESTS OF THE MATANUSKA VALLEY
THY A FRONftElSsMAN
CLASSIFIED AD for that
item you may have for sala.
! rent or lease.
VOLUME 45, NUMBER 48
PALMER. ALASKA, THURSDAY, AUUGUST 21, 1952
PRICE TEN CENTS
WORK STARTS ON BUFFALO COAL MINI
SPECIAL ELECTION
SET FOR SEv'T. 23
A special city election Tuesday,
September 23 was -authorized by
resolution of the City Council last
night. #
The special election, which may
precede a regular city election by
two weeks, will be held for the
purpose of determining whether
or not the City of Palmer shall
have an annual election to be held
each and every year on the first
Tuesday of October for election of
members of the Council and the
Mayor of Palmer.
Ordinance 22, adopted by the
City Council July 30, following
three successive readings, makes
provision for the October election
of city officials in accordance with
Section 16-1-34 ACLA 1949, as
amended by Chapter 36, SLA 1949,
as amended by Chapter 8. SLA
1951. The later amendment calls
for electors’ approval of the or
dinance.
Specifically, qualified electors
of Palmer will be asked to vote
yes or no on a proposition that
provides for (1) annual city elec
tions on the first Tuesday in
October; (2) election October 7,
1952, of two Council members for
one-year terms, two for two-year
terms, and two for three-year
terms, with two councilmen to be
elected every year thereafter;
and (3) election of a Mayor on
October 7, 1952, for a one-year
term, and thereafter, on edd
numbered years, election of a
Mayor for a two-year term.
This provision for overlapping
terms of office for members of
the City Council assures continu
ity of city government through in
clusion of men already experienc
ed in such government in each
new Council. It guards against
waste of time and confusion in
herent in a completely inexperi
enced Council.
The new ordinance provides for
a Mayor elected directly by the
Continued on Page 4
New Valley Hospital
To Be Rebid in Nov.,
With Contract Shorn
Re-opening of bidding on the
proposed Valley Presbyterian Hos
pital will take place about No
vember 15 of this year, it was
decided in a 14-hour conference
held in Anchorage last Thursday.
Last week Thursday’s lengthy
conference was the last of a series
in which Norman Moore of the
U. S. Public Health Service;
Gertrude Wetzel of the Ter
ritorial Department of Health,
Edwin Crittenden, architect of
the hospital, and O. K.
Kincaid. manager of Val
ley Hospital and representative of
the hospital board, have been
trying to make changes in the
original plans and specifications
calculated to reduce the estimated
cost. Low bid on the initial bid
ding that closed July 3 was $643.
308, or nearly $200,000 higher than
estimated cost of the 27-bed unit.
Since it was unlikely that that
much money would be available,
it was necessary to reduce costs
wherever possible without sacri
ficing space and Equipment for
the hospital’s primary purpose.
Thus to reduce costs the fol
lowing items were pulled out of
the general contract: (1) land
clearing of the hospital site, (2)
Continued on page 4 _
AUGUST 20 SNOW
REPORTED
NEAR WASILLA
Snow was reported at the
side of the highway between
King’s Lake and Wasilla last
night.
A usually reliable source
described the unusual phenom
enon of August 20 snow. Al
though she did not see it fall,
she said that the white stuff
perhaps one-half inch thick at
the side of the road about 7:30
p.m. was authentic snow; there
was no doubt about it.
VALLEY PEOPLE
URGED TO JOIN
CANCER CRUSADE
The Matanuska Valley’s first
Cancer Crusade is now in pro
gress.
Letters to nearly every family
in the community were mailed
Monday morning. They reported
support for a disease that now
attacks one person out of every
five, according to American Can-1
cer Society statistics. The en- !
velopes were addressed and stuff- j
ed by members of the local can-1
cer committee and the Cheechako !
Homemakers, who met at the
home of Mrs. Charles Wilson,'
chairman of the cancer commit- j
tee, last Friday evening.
Early Monday morning 60 at-!
tractive coin boxes were placed
in stores, eating places, and busi- j
ness offices all over the Valley. I
Highway Patrolmen co-operated |
by placing some of them in road
houses along the highway.
The local crusade is not a high
pressure campaign. Members of
the cancer committee believe that
Valley people are well aware of
the need for such a campaign,
and past response shows their
willingness to support, as best
they can, what needs to be done. 1
Local contributions will go to
ward the national Crusade goal
of $16 million. Funds will be used
to expand programs of- services
to patients, public and profes
sional education, and research'in
to cancer’s causes and cures.
Sixty percent of all funds con
tributed by Alaskans remains in
the Territory.
Cancer research was described
this wek by Mrs. Wilson as a divi
dend-bearing investment and not
a “pie in the sky” proposition for
the future.
Research, supported by Cancer
Crusade contributions, she said,
has made it possible to cure an
unprecedented number of can
:er patients.
Continued on page 4
OFFICIALS URGE
MORE PREPARATION
FOR CIVIL DEFENSE
Col. James C. Crockett and Ed
Fortier of the Civil Defense Ad
ministration were in Palmer this
week conferring with the new”
local director. Rev. Edward H
Imme and Mayor Carl Meier.
The need for civil defense at
all times was pointed out by Col.
Crockett. “If Anchorage were
ever in a critical position, there
would be much looting through
this area. History has shown this
to be ever-present in such situa
tions. Need for a very stringent
auxiliary police force to protect
private property and prevent in
juries is very evident throughout
the Territory,” he stated.
Called to Washington. D. C. in
June of this year, Col. Crockett
was assured that a 24-hour watch
for planes would be established
in Alaska. Pointing out the great
amount of propoganda being dis
persed in many ways by Russia,
Col. Crockett opined that we have
no way of knowing just what
their plans are, but that we must
be prepared for any stuation.
He mentioned the unusual op
portunity given Alaskan cities to
obtain many necessary and expen
sive items of Civil Defense equip
ment. A list of available equip
ment was sent to "the City Coun
cil over six weeks ago. Cities may
obtain the equipment, Col. Crock
_Continued on Page 4_
HEALTH CERTIFICATES
REQUESTED FOR ALL
FAIR LIVESTOCK
As a special protection to all
exhibitors of livestock at the
1952 Matanuska Valley Fair,
the Fair Association is request
ing that a health certificate be
presented for all cattle ex
hibited, showing them to be
disease-free. These certificates
may be obtained from the Ter
ritorial Veterinarian..
Additional Prizes Stimulate Interest In Fair Exhibits
Interest among Matanuska Val
ley Fair exhibitors has been stim
ulated this week by the announce
ment of additional prizes worth
$350 being offered by manufact
urers and wholesale dealers.
Obtained through the efforts of
Co-Op Manager Fred Zieke these
awards are merchandise prizes
given in addition to the prizes
listed in the Fair Premium Book.
The special prizes are being
donated by the Goodyear Tire and
Rubber Co., Albers Milling Co.,
the Glen Carrington Co., and the
Chas. H. Lilly Co.
The Fair Association has allot
ted the prizes to the following
groups and classes: for the most
outstanding potato entry, $25 in
fertilizer from Lilly’s; for the
largest head of cabbage, a Free
man headbolt heater from Glen
Carrington; for the four best in
dividual farm displays—$25 in
fertilizer from Lilly’s (first prize),
one Goodyear passenger tire each
for second and third prize win
ners. and a Goodyear battery for
the fourth prize winner: for the
Best Cow in the Valley, $25 of
Albers’ feed; (an additional list
ing) for the best pair—hen and
rooster—in the Chicken Style
Show, a Goodyear bicycle; for
the largest assortment of canned
goods and jellies, a Goodyear
electric table range; for the most
blue ribbons won in the Flower
Division, a Goodyear hot and cold
fan; for the largest number of
blue ribbons in the 4-H Division,
a $10 merchandise certificate
from Glen Carrington, redeemable
at the Co-Op; for the best collec
tion of 10 jars of canned products
(Meal Planning Class), $10 Glen
Carrington merchandise award,
redeemable at the Co-Op; for the
best of show heifer (Class V I,
Div. K), $10 in Albers feed; for
the first four prize-winning
Homemakers booths, Glen Car
rington merchandise awards of
$25, $15, $10, and $5, redeemable
at the Co-Op; for the best pen of
birds (Division D), $15 in Albers’
feed; for the largest cabbage in
the 4-H Division, a Freeman
headbold heater from Glen Car
rington.
All merchandise awards listed
above are in addition to the a
wards listed in the Fair Premium
Book.
Deadline for Exhibitors
All exhibitors were urged this
week by the Fair Association to
get their exhibit items ready and
notify Fair Manager Parker Les
ter as soon as possible regard
ing space requirements. Division
superintendents and their assis
tants will be on hand from noon
until 8 p.m. next week Friday
to receive exhibits. Exhibitors are
advised to go to the Fair Office
first to be assigned their numbers.
From there they will be directed
to the building where the several
division items are being exhibited.
All exhibits except animals are
supposed to be entered by 8 p.m.
Friday, August 29. Judging will
start promptly at 9 a.m. Saturday,
August 30.
Fair Programs
The Fair Program will be pub
lished in next Thursday’s Front
iersman. The following day copies
of the program, including last
minute changes, will be distribut
ed generally throughout the city.
However, Fairgoers this year will
have less difficulty in getting to
a specific event at the correct
time and place. The Fair Associa
tion has purchased a new public
address system, which will be in
stalled at the information booth.
From there notices of all big
events will be broadcast over the
whole Fair Grounds—also infor
mation about lost and found chil
dren and other items.
One Night Only
The gigantic fire works dis
play will be a one-night attrac
tion. This special feature of the
1952 Fair will begin at 9:30
p.m. Sunday, August 31 on the
Fair Grounds. Never before, says
Fair Board President A1 Hagen,
has such a gigantic display been
seen in Alaska. It equals the fire
works displays at the biggest fairs
in the States. Preliminary work
in erecting the displays is being
done by the local Loyal Order of
Moose.
Fair Queen Ticket Deadline
According to official reports
two more Fair Queen candidates
Pat Plumley and Joan Haik have
qualified for the contest. Qualify
ing last week were Wanda Lindsey
and Rose Marie Vickaryous.
Candidates have until 5 p.m. Sat
urday, August 30 to complete
their ticket sales. Then all tickets
and money must be turned in
The Coronation Ball will be held
that very night, with dancing
from 10 p.m. to 2 a.m. Mrs .Carl
Mielke has been commissioned to
fashion the special crown with
which the Queen will be crowned
following the judges’ decision.
ruLLunmu KtNUVAIIUN, UtVELUPMENT
MAY PRODUCE 450 TONS DAILY BY I'NE
DATES FOR ANNUAL
COMMUNITY CHEST
DRIVE ANNOUNCED
October 6-18 has been set asidi
for the annual Palmer Commun
ity Chest drive.
Members of the 1952 campaigi
; committee met this week to mak<
[ preliminary arrangements ant
start mapping out the campaign
They are Emil Ganschow, chair
man; Mrs James Hurley, ant
Mrs. Newell Talcott.
“Bob^^BartiefTioBe
Guest Speaker Here
At Democratic Dinner
Alaska Delegate to Congres
E. L. Bartlett will be gues
i speaker at a dinner sponsorec
; by the local Democratic club tt
| be held next Thursday evening
August 23. at Moose Hall. An
other guest, as yet unannounced
will emcee the affair.
All Valley Democrats anc
others interested in hearing tht
Alaska Delegate's speech are in
vited to attend. Tickets are avail
able from Betty Mears and A
DeJulio, members of the Demo
cratic Divisional committee; Ber
tren Curry, Joseph Loyer, Wil
liam Casler, Victor Falk. Sr., anc
from Merritt Long in Jonesville
Women of the Moose will cool
and serve the dinner.
The local dinner will precede
a Democratic rally which will bi
held in Anchorage at the bal
park on August 29. All Democrat:
of the Matanuska Valley are;
hav# been invited to attend the
rally.
Teen-Agers Buying
Drinks With Forged
IDs Says Police Chief
Police Chief Bernie Bouwens
back on duty after five weeks
vacation in the States, brought t<
City Council attention last nigh
the problem of teen-agers goini
into local bars with forged identi
fications.
The problem had been aired or
previous occasions, but this time
Bouwens asked for authority tc
control it. Already, he said, Ter
ritory statues provide stiff penal
ties for barkeepers and bartend
ers convicted of selling liquor t(
minors, with or without forgec
credentials. The court has n(
mercy for a bartender who ha:
been “taken in” by such forgery
Bouwens insisted, but law pro
vides no punishment for the minoi
who “tricked” the bartender intc
selling the drink illegally. The
police chief wanted the misde
meanor ordinance amended tc
provide punishment for forging
identification to use in purchasing
liquor.
After much discussion of the
difficulties involved, City Attor
ney Harold Butcher agreed tc
drait such an amendment to sub
mit for Council consideration. Ob
jections voiced during discussior
were as follows: There is no use ir
having a law if it can’t be en
forced. The local jail is not fit foi
the detention of teen-agers. Con
victing a teen-ager caught buying
a drink with forged identificatior
would automatically lead to con
viction of the bartender who sole
him the drink.
Renovation work on Buffalo
i Mine started last week following
receipt of permission from RFC to
| start disbursements on the $425,
; 775 loan granted early last June,
i Francis Graham of Anchorage,
. who has been named general
I manager and engineer for mine
i operations, announced this week
, that five men are working outside
[ on renovation of the camp and
four men are replacing timbers
. inside. These men are all that will
[ be employed at the present time,
he said. Nearly all men presently
I employed are from the Palmer
area, and this policy will be con
I tinued insofar as possible when
development work begins. Inside
superintendent at the mine is
Archie Browning, until recently
mining foreman for the Evan
. Jones Coal Co .Also from Evan
t Jones is Robert Francher who
[ will be chief electrician and mas
, ; ter mechanic at the Buffalo mine,
i As soon as the mine can be un
. watered and the new timbring is
: done, a start will be made on
' | development work, which is ex
I pected to result in a small amount
. of coal production within two
. months. A production goal of 450
. tons per day is expected by early
[ next summer, when it is expected
. | that 80-100 men will be employ
. ed.
A pump has been ordered to
[ pump out the mine, long tilled.
with water. A new washing plant
; has also been ordered, with arriv
al expected within the next six
. weeks. The washing plant capacity
. will be about 40 tons per hour.
[ Early plans call for driving of a
j new slope to reduce grade ana
t increase haulage capacity. The
; new slope is expected to intersect'
eight seams known to exist.
Meanwhile the present equip
ment will be used until the new
washing plant and other facilities
can be installed and made ready
for Operation.
Before coming to Alaska in
1949, the new managing engineer
, was chief engineer of the Victor
’ | American Fuel Co.« of Denver.
»! Colorado. Since coming to Alaska
; j Mr. Graham has been connected
: | with the engineering department
of the Alaska Railroad and with
the Bureau of Mines. For the past
t year he has been engaged in pri
■ vate engineering practice around
> Anchorage. Since Mrs. Graham
■ will be teaching in the Anchorage
• school system this year, he will
■ maintain his home in Anchorage.
> The Grahams have two sons. One
son, James, is working at the
1 mine and lives in Palmer. The
i younger son, Gail, is a junior high
, school student in Anchorage.
The lease on the Buffalo Mine
corporation holdings of 960 acres
1 is good for approximately 50
years. Twenty thousand shares of
common stock with par value at
one dollar make up the corpora
tion’s capitalization. A $425,775
loan from the Defense Produc
tion Administration is administer
ed by the Reconstruction Finance
Corporation. Stockholders of the
company are Frank Colobuffalo,
Buell, Nesbett, Aquilla Mathew,
Joe Sentich, J. C- Morris, Norman
Continued on Page 4
I $100 REWARD
| I, A1 King will give $100 re
ward for information leading
to arrest and conviction on
charges of past or future pil
fering, vandalism, or sabotage
of my taxis.
It's Stupendous... See our ad, page 4-Palmer Realty,