The Daily Alaska empire., 1935-04-30
BOAT CARRYINC SETTLERS WILL STOP IN JUNEAU
Families Will Be Given Day or Two Tn Various
 Alaska Ports
TROAST TELLS OF
 BUILDING PROGRAM
Two Million Feet of Lum- Der to Be Bought from
 Mills Tn Territory

Juneau will have an opportunity to play host to the Matanuska col onists for one or two days on their way to the new project.
 This was the information brought here today by N Lester Troast of the Bureau or Indian Affairs and architect for the big undertaking when ha arrived on the Alaska from Seattle. MT Troast, who has been in Washington preparing plans, win have charge of all construction on the project.
 The St. Mihiel, army transport, which is bringing the settlers north, will stop at Ketchikan, and Juneau on both trips during May, he said. The North Star which is bringing transient men from California to do the preliminary work is now in Ketchikan loading lumber and Is expected to arrive here Thursday where she also will take lumber from the Juneau Lumber Mills, one Of the successful bidders for Mat anuska
 Chance For Sightseeing
 The St. Mihiel will leave San Francisco on the first trip tomorrow with 66 families and 360 transients and will stop at Ketchikan and Ju- neau to take lumber, MT. Troast said. On the second trip she will leave Seattle May IS with 134 fam lilies, averaging about five to the family, and also will stop here.
 We are not herding these people into the north" he said, but giy- ing them an opportunity to see things. They will have a day or two in Juneau. Ketchikan and per haps some of the other ports"
 The colonists are of the highest type, the architect said, in explain ing that relief directors and other experts of the three states. Minne- sota. Wisconsin and Michigan, had been called into conference in Wash ington and every possible effort ex- tended to pick the people which would be most likely to make a suc- cess in the new venture.
 Benefits of Project
 Revealing the benefits of the project to Alaska, Troast said about two million feet of lumber would be purchased from Alaska mills for the construction and that feed, seed and other articles available in the Territory would be bought in Alas ka to start the settlers out. Certain other supplies also will be bought from concerns within the Territory, he said.
 The first transients going to Mat anuska on the North Star will im- mediately erect tent camps, he ex- plained, so that quarters will be available for the first families when they arrive on the St. Mihiel. Con- struction of houses and community center will be pushed at once and by fall 1t is expected the colonists will be adequately housed for the winter.
 Houses of Logs
 All settlers houses and out build ings will be of log while the com- munity center which will incMdesa church. school. garage, creamery. store and so on, will be of frame construction and modern. in every respect Some s115,000 will go into the school and other units in the community center andf the school will be one of the finest in the Territory. It is estimated there will be at least 450 pupils Location of the Community center will be at the station of Palmer on the Alaska Railroad, and one of the interesting features will be community chick en ranch, although the farmers also will be able to have some chickens. The farm homes will be built in groups of four, that is, at the four corners of adjoining 40-acre tracts and close to the loop road which will touch every farm
 Take in Present Farmers
 The few farmers already in the Matanuska will be taken into the project, MT Troast said, and will be given .financial assistance the same as the imported farmers. Con- trclled production will be the basic .T fContinued on Page Two,