U. OF ALASKA HONORS
ANDREW NERLAND
AT COMMENCEMENT
Fairbanks’ Andrew Nerland,
president of the Board of Regents
and “grand old man of Alaskan
education” was honored at the
University of Alaska Commence
ment ceremonies Monday when
President Terris Moore conferred
an honorary degree on him.
Nerland, who is now 82 years
of age, has been actively associat
ed with the University for over
30 years. Back in 1915 a federal
land grant and yearly appropria
tion of $50,000 established what
then was known as the Alaska
Agricultural College and School
of Mines. Nerland was a member
of this group which selected the
site at College. Elected to the
Territorial Legislature, he was
instrumental in getting appropria
tions for the first buildings on the
campus.
In recognition of his active in
terest in the school, he was ap
pointed to the Board of Regents
in 1927 by Governor George
Parks. In 1934 he became presi
dent of the board, a position he
has held ever since.
SCS AND BUREAU
CO-OPERATE ON
SNOW SURVEYS
The use of snow surveys to
forecast power production from
yearly run-offs is being used this
year for the first time in Alaska
in connection with the Eklutna
Power Project.
The Soil Conservation Service
and the Bureau of Reclamation
are continuing their co-operation
on snow surveys in the Eklutna
Basin. Already two trips have
been made this year up to select
ed areas and the depth of snow
measured. One more trip will be
made before the season is over.
George Woodruff and Tom Day
from the SCS Territorial office
at Pamer made the initial trip
during the first part of April. Will
Reedy, hydrologist, with the Bur
eau of Reclamation in Juneau, ac
companied them on their May
first trip.
Unless the snow melt is unusu
ally slow the third trip will be
done the easy way—by airplane
—to see if the snow courses are
bare of snow. But if this air
plane check shows snow to be
still there a ground measurement
will have to be made again. This
will mean another long, uphill
hike to complete the season’s
records.
The purpose of these Alaskan
snow surveys is to help in the
forecasting of how much water
will flow into Eklutna Lake
each year. With this information
estimates can be made of the
power that can be produced dur
ing a given year. It has already
been determined how much
power can be produced during an
average season and also how
much variation can be expected
from one season to another. How
ever, it is hoped that these snow
surveys will make it possible to
forecast power production several
months ahead.
The snow program is under the
direction of the Division of Irri
gation of the Soil Conservation
Service which has been conduct
ing snow surveys in the western
states for many years. It has had
great success in forecasting year
LEGION AUXILIARY
TO SELL POPPIES
Mrs. Ann Demming, chairman
of the 1952 Poppy Drive, has
urged active participation in the
annual Poppy Day sales to be
conducted by the Palmer Post,
American Legion Auxiliary Sat
urday, May 24.
The purchase of these little
red flowers, she pointed out, is
a tribute to those who have died
for America. The proceeds de
rived from the sales go toward
aiding the vast welfare and as
sistance programs carried on dur
ing the year by the Auxiliary.
Disabled veterans, who un
tiringly make the poppies, are as
sisted in every way possible by
returns from poppy sales. Chil
dren of veterans also benefit
through the vast child welfare
program carried out by the Amer
ican Legion Auxiliary, she added.
Mr. Demming asks that every
one—“wear a Memorial poppy on
Poppy Day. By doing so, you will
show tribute to the veterans liv
ing and dead, who have shown
their tribute to our country.”
Moose Lodge Invites
Teen-Agers lo Parly
All Valley teen-agers are in
vited to attend a party to be held
at Moose Hall Friday night, May
23. The lodge has decided to make
this a monthly affair, with a
dance to be held the last Friday
of each month.
The price of admission will be
twenty-five cents. This sum will
help defray the cost of refresh
ments.
There will be modern and
square dancing. To keep things
going at an interesting pace, Mr3.
A1 Brager, Mrs. Kathleen Moore,
Mr. and Mrs. Leo Lucas and Mr. j
and Mrs. Bill Roark will be on J
hand.
THETA CHAPTER HEARS
ABOUT GREAT BOOKS
DISCUSSION GROUPS
An informal talk on the Great
Books Discussion «G roup was pre
sented at the May 19 meeting of
Theta Chapter, Beta Sigma Phi
by Mrs. Lucille Mick, one of the
founders of the Palmer study
group.
Prefacing her remarks with a
brief history of the origin of the
group, Mrs. Mick explained the
activities of Great Books groups
to the enthused group attending
the meeting.
Plans to build a permenent
type structure for the sorority
booth to be conducted during the
three day Settlers’ Celebration,
met with the approval of the
members, and a committee was
named to follow it through to
completion.
The sorority will serve chili
hot dogs—a now-favorite dish of
fair-goers. Matanuska Maid pro
ducts and coffee will round out
the bill of fare.
ly run-offs. Such information has
proved very helpful to many
farmers and ranchers with their
irrigation problems as well as
other people concerned with flood
control, water supplies, and
power production.
The use of snow surveys on the
Eklutna Power Project is the first
time this technique has been used
in Alaska.
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Damages About
$1,000 at Matanuska
Expl. Station Fire
A fire at the Matanuska Ex
periment Station’s dairyman’s
cottage last Thursday about 8:30
p.m. resulted in about $1,000
damages, according to an esti
mate made by Ivan Branton,
agricultural engineer.
The fire broke out in the chim
ney flue and its prompt discovery
by residents at the Station prob
ably prevented the complete de
struction of the dwelling. They
had their hoses already at work
when the Palmer Fire Depart
ment arrived and helped to get
at the source of the fire. Most of
the damage was caused in getting
at the smouldering areas. The as
phalt shingled roof was not dam
aged, but some of the rafters sup
porting it may have to be re
placed as will downstairs walls
in the kitchen and living room
and part of a gable.
The origin of the fire was un
known. The chimney, although
defective at the point of entry
into the flu, had served through
out the winter. Oddly, the fire
followed a few hours after the
Wiliam Hoskins family had mov
ed most of their belongings from
the house. They had moved to
their own farm home, since Hos
kins recently resigned the posi
tion he had held at the Station
for the past six years. Mrs. Hos
kins had left about 3:30 p.m.
Mrs. Linnus DePriest, who was
to move into the house with her
husband next day, had taken
some things to their new home
about 7 p.m. There was no sign
of a fire then.
BOY SCOUT NEWS
Curtis G. Shattuck of Juneau
was elected president of the Al
aska Council, Boy Scouts of Am
erica during annual election
meetings held in the four head
quarters cities. Vice-presidents
are: Milton J. Daly, Ketchikan;
M. J. Whittier, Juneau; Douglas
Preston, Fairbanks; and John F.
Gorsuch of Anchorage. Charles G.
Burdick of Juneau continues as
council commissioner.
Maurice Powers of Anchorage,
continues in his position as Scout
Executive for the Territory. Pow
ers has been with the Alaska
Council in this capacity since
March, 1948.
Sixty leading business and pro
fessional men from all parts of
the Territory comprise the board
of directors, including W. E.
Huntley of Palmer.
The largest budget in the his
tory of the organization, totalling
$54,000. was adopted by council
members for 1952 operations.
LITTLE SUSITNA ROAD
TEMPORARILY CLOSED
BY ROCK SLIDE
A rockslide on the Little Su
sitna road closed a section to traf
fice sometime after late after
noon last Sunday.
Motorists who were returning
from the skiing area narrowly!
missed being struck by falling
rock and trees earlier in the
afternoon.
The Alaska Road Commission j
moved equipment to the area I
Monday morning and succeeded1
in opening the road to traffic, j
During the operation Pete Nel
son, an ARC employe was injured
in the foot by a falling rock.
Famed Soprano
Marita Farrell May
Teach Voice in Palmer ..
Word has been received here
that the distinguished Metropol
itan Opera soprano, Marita Farell,
will reserve one day for Palmer
during her current stay in the
Territory if there is a sufficient
number of interested voice pupils
in the Valley.
Ray Nelson, who went to An
chorage yesterday to sign up for
lessons, sounded out Miss Farell
on the possibilit yof her coming
to Palmer to give lessons. To his
surprise, she appeared delighted
with the possibility. She offered
to bring her own accompanist
with her to Palmer once a week
if a minimum of five pupils de
sired lessons. The charges re
ported by Nelson were exception
ally low for a teacher of such
wide musical experience. Inter
ested persons may get in touch
with Nelson or Miss Farell.
Miss Farell has been the guest
artist for Anchorage’s “Arctic
Summeretta” the past few years.
While assisting in the commun
ity production featured during
the annual program, she has also
made herself available as a teach
er to singers who wish profes
sional training.
Miss Farell returns to Anch-'
orage each year because she con- j
siders it now her second home, |
She plans to remain in the Ter- j
ritory this year about six months. |
GEOLOGICAL SURVEY MAPS
Mrs. Betty Harrington, secre
tary at the Geological Survey of
fice, rdports a lively interest
shown in the sale of USGS maps,
recently begun. Already the local
office has had to reorder on a
number of them.
i CUB SCOUT NEWS \
Palmer Cub Pack No. 354 will
hold their monthly pack meeting
May 26. at Barry’s Lake. The
meeting will be held in the form
of a picnic for cubs and their
parents.
Everyone is requested to meet
at the home of Assistant Cub
master Curtis Dearborn at the
Experment Farm, at 6:30 sharp.
Cars will leave for the lake from
his home, with activities based
on the* weather. Families are
asked to take enough food for
their own group. Cub Scout lead
ers have suggested that each cub
be accompanied by his parents.
Dan Mothers Hooded
The need for additional den
mothers is again present. Any
one who feels they would like
to help the growing Cub Scout
program in this capacity is asked
to please contact Cubmaster Ed
ward Imme.
Den Mothers will hold a dis
cussion meeting this afternoon to
formulate summer plans for the
dens. Mrs. Ben Hudgins will dem
onstrate Junior Arts and Handi
crafts to the group. These will
include activities suitable for
children in the 8-12 year age
group.
INSURE TODAY—SEE RAY!
BETTER STILL—SEE BILL!!
AT GRANGE HALL
Sun., June 1 Starling 12 noon
HOME MADE FOODS
Hot and Cold Sandwiches
Coffee and Milk
NEW SHIPMENT OF
, * Davenos
r * Living Room Suites
AND
* Sectional Furniture
Chrome Breakfast Sets
PONOEROSA PINE
Unfinished furniture
Including: CHESTS - DESKS -BEDS and
BREAKFAST SETS
The modern way to furnish at LOW COST
A whole house or a room! All ready to paint to match your own scheme
at a FRACTION of the cost of finished pieces.
KOSLOSKY’S
FURNITURE
DEPARTMENT
YOUR FRIENDLY STORE