The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1935-06-26
JOB BUNGLED,'
ALASKA PIONEER
CHIEFS ASSERT
Bitter Charges Uncovered in
United Press Writer'S
Story From Site.

United Press Writer S
Story From Site.
a United Press e0rrrsp pendent has
maf~ a frst hard invrstiration 70 eon-
dsi-rr ID ths Matanu,ka VALLEY %
Aiaska who're me United states D.
eofonlrinr Wisconsin,. MirhiEan and
Minrsrata farm families ruined ~
drourht NarIous sharrss have been
made against the PROJECT. some fsE
eamlrr. throurh ths small eommuni-
cations facilities. from the colonists
thsm,-ivri. Ihs arst % his dispatches
foiIeusY
.C.1surh- is1s l. -znss Presp
PALMER. Alaska. June &c. - A
large majority 0f the new pioneers
q the Matanu ka Valley are dis
contcnted and believe the Federal
government has bungled the col
onImu0u scheme that moved them
from Wisconsin. Michigan and MIN
ner0.a farms 70 this fertile wilder
mes
Pioneers told the United Press
correspondent that lack Of proper
tools and supplies and clashes be-
tween Administration forces seu-
cI-ly endangered the success Of the
project They were angry chiefly
over failure ~ Tho authorities 20
have permanent roofs completed for
the 1000 meh. women and children
tTansplautcd 70 this sub-Arcuc zone
from the temperate climate OF the
United States
The pioneers directed their prin-
Cipal criticism az the corps of tran
sient workers who preceded them
here 90 grub stumps. build roads.
cut logs and erect cabins. They
have done only 10 per cent OF the
work expected o. them. they
charged Meanwhile. the farm
families are living in tents. their
fears of what IS 20 come ncreas-
ing. The rainy season is due with
IN a few weeks.
One Death i Recorded
The c0,0nisrz said the entire prof.
Get had suffered from too much long
range administration. Much Of the
executive authority is excrted from
Washington. they said. while some
comes from Juneau. capital OF
Alaska. and hundreds OF miles from
the valley.
Pointing To- examples. the colon
lists said 10 horses were shipped
from Seattle. but not one wagon
accompanied them. Don I. Erwin,
secretary Of the Matanuska Valley
Association. ordered wagons on the
last voyage OF the steamer North
Star None arrived. the colOnists
complained. Instead came five tons
Of paper Owcls.
The colOnists also complained OF
improper sanitation. Thirty cases
Of mumps and measles were re-
ported I'm the nine tent camps one
death had been recOrded-that OF
Donald KOcnin. 4. son OF Mr. and
Mrs Henry Koenin. formerly Of
South Range. Wis lie was buried
I'm q homemade coffin
Mr.. Erwin was praised by the col
onists. who charged that ne did not
receive proper cooperation from
Washington and Juneau.
No Houses Completed
No houses or roads have been
completed. No wells have been dug.
Machinery and tools have net been
delivered The Colonists said they
believed some Of the officials sent
to MataENska were political ap-
pO.ntceS.
Some Of the colonists we're willing
10 make allowances for the difficult
ties Of Transporting materials into
this valley. which Is $50 miles from
its seaport. and is served only by a
single track railroad that crosses
two mountain ranges. one train
comes from the coast each week.
The cOl0riSts said. however. that
there had tecu bunClinG.
The charges that resulted IN
Senator arthur Vandenburg. r.
MirhI. and his Midwest ccIeagu-S.
demanding and being promised n
Senate Investigation. were sent by
Mrs. I. VI. Sa1dvick and Patrick J.
Hemmer. They reiterated their
complaints.
We did not want 20 go over Mr.
Erwins head but felt compelled 70,
Mrs. Sandwich said.
Compelled to Complain
Mr.. Hemmer said ne felt COM
PEELED 20 complain. too.
I represented these people "a
group Of - coloniStSl I'm council
and 10 was my duty 10 sign that
telegram" he said.
Even though the big majority Of
III, settlers are diSContented-OnlN
about 20 per cent appear diScur-
aged
But many Of these formerly on
relief in the Middle West wondered
If their cabins providing sheltei
would be ready before the snow
flies in late fall Oct IS is the
deadline.
only TWO small sawmillS are cut
ting f0ur-faccd. randOm-length
ssx-inch timberS Only two cabin:
are under construction. In some
camps colonistS are cutting logs FOL
cabins. with little hope Of having
them ready for weeks.