Evening star., 1935-05-15
BY JOHN c. HENRY.

Alaska-Garden of Eden or Just an
other harsh taskmaster; bountiful
producer Of crops or frost-hardened
soil best fitted for moss and mos
quitoes?
Let 200 families transplanted there
from Minnesota, Michigan and Wis
consin as part of a rehabilitation pro-
gram of the Federal Emergency Re-
lief Administration make answer a
few years from now. Or, II you pre-
fer, listen to some Of the conflicting
testimony submitted at present by
those who have been there, those
who haven't been there and those who
are sending others there.
Suffering them to be hailed as
new band of pilgrim fathers" the
F. E. r. A. has dispatched to the
Matanuska Valley Of Alaska some 200
families from the three States men,
toned. To each of these units is to
be extended a 40-acre tract of farm
land with house fully equipped and
necessary farming accessories. Esti-
mating the cost of each Of these
layouts at $4,000, the administration
is allowing the pioneer families 80
years in which to discharge the debt.
Optimistic Views Qualified.
Ahead of the families were dis
patched some 400 unemployed in
dividuals from transient relief camps,
their function being to aid in clear
ing and construction activities of the
settlement during the Summer months,
with their return scheduled in the
Fall.
In announcing their plans, the F. E.
r. A. ventured predictions of its sue
cess, qualifying them, however, as
follows:
This project has every indication
Of success, bringing to Alaska addi-
tional settlers, who are needed and
to these families an economic and So
cial security. Care must be taken
not to paint the picture to the FAM
lilies in colors that are too rosy. Hard
ships will have to. be faced, especially
for the first couple of years, and
many adjustments made"
Some of the unusual conditions Of
the region were described as follows:
THE mercury at times drops as low
as 40 below. There is a great varia-
ton in the length of the day between
Winter and Summer. Beginning April
Is there are IA hours of sunshine, and
this increases until June IS, when the
sun shines for 20 hours and there is
no darkness The region is free from
tornadoes and severe electrical storms,
but from July until September there
is generally a heavy rainfall. One
of the pests which settlers will have
to combat Is the mosquito, which
is present in great numbers during
the Summer"
Venture Was Romanticized.
As the project gained added pub
licity, the qualifications were forgot
ten, the venture was romanticized.
A few days ago, however, sharp barb
Of criticism was launched by former
Representative Cyrenus Cole, Iowa Re-
publican, who appealed to Secretary
of Agriculture Wallace to intervene
to check this new folly"
For the basis of his criticism. Cole
recounted the experience of his visit
to Alaska in 1923 as a member OF
Congress, another visitor on the same
occasion being the then Secretary OF
Agriculture. Henry c. wallace.
I'VE both looked at the country
through Iowa-born agricultural eyes.
I recall that he said to me, Some
time, now far away, when our lands
have become exhausted we may have
to go up there to coax food from the
soil, but I hope I will never have to
go there to follow plow with mos
quito net over my head"
At the same time, washington
State critic submits the following:
ITO start with, Alaska has more
than its share of unemployed. On
workers to clear land there. Hun
dreds, yes thousands. of Alaskans
want work. They need it. They re-
sent importation of workers from
California when they are forced to
ask relief.
Valley Held Undesirable.
1.-THE valley selected for trying COL
onization is about the most unde-
sirable in the Far North. More than
400 settlers in the past have tried
it, only to leave. 1t may be a swell
scheme for the dreamers at Wash
ington, but the people of the North
fail to appreciate it."
The same commentator quotes for
mer Judge Elmer Ritchie of Veldez
and Seward: 1.-THE farmers in the
Matanuska made some money during
prohibition days by converting spuds
and turnips into nnoonshine which
they sold at Anchorage. This new
Ecrop will starve to death. Inside OF
n