Evening star., 1936-04-19

LASkAS new pioneers, WARDS
~ of a generous Government
~ who have settled in Matanuska
4 n Valley, Territory of Alaska,
will be shouting to come home after
they have harvested their first crop
within the next 80 days.
Carefully chosen from the drought
stricken farm areas Of Minnesota,
Michigan and Wisconsin. 200 farm
families were transplanted to the
Land of the Midnight Sun early last
Spring by the present administration
in the largest colonization scheme
in the history of the country.
The head of each family was given
a 40-acre tract of land, seed, farm
machinery, (mechanics were imported
from Seattle to service this machin-
eryl and $4,000 in credit until his
land became productive. This credit
was negotiable at the Government
commissaries in the valley. The
$4,000 is repayable in 80 years.
Transportation to the far-away fer
tile Matanuska Valley was furnished
by the Government free.
$4,000 Per Family Cost.
To date the Government has ex-
pended approximately $4,000 per
family, and the pioneers have not
as yet planted a single seed.
Flowing will begin this month,
planting following Immediately, and
the first crop will be harvested by
the middle of June.
The colonists got off to poor start,
the first contingent arrived in the
valley May 10 last. They were from
Minnesota. Others from Michigan
and Wisconsin arrived during the
next 10 days, The majority of these
farmers had been on relief rolls
down below" as Alaskans term the
United States, for several years and
had become softened and were not the
type for frontier country.
In less than a month after their
arrival these pioneers of 1885" who
had been lauded by the press. radio
and news reels as heroes of the CEN
tury" committed the unpardonable sin
of the North Country by-whining.
In six weeks after their arrival a
group Of the colonists began burning
up the cables with their complaints.
They cabled President Roosevelt. Gov.
Troy of Alaska and their State Rep
resentatives at home, demanding an
immediate investigation into condi-
tions at Matanuska.
advancement Charged.
They charged gross mismanagement
inadequate medical service, no cabins,
no wells, unSanitary living conditions
no roads and what they called exces-
sive cost of Alaskan living.
They were billeted in tents, Army
style.
The rainy season was on and
Matanuska was a sea of mud.
In less than two months 26 fam
lilies had hoisted the flag Of surrender
and had returned to their homes in
the States. During the Summer
months seven other families showed
the white feather and left the colony
before they had gotten the dust OF
their home State from their boots
Today the 167 families remaining
in Matanuska are anxiously scanning
the skies praying for Spring and the
warm Summer sun. Throughout the
long night" as Winter is known ir
the North Country, the only thing
the colonists could do was to sit
in their cabins and take it on the chin
Men and women's nerves became
jumpy, until they admitted that they
had almost learned to hate the sigh
Of each other.
In their letters home they beggee
relatives and friends to send then
all the reading material possible tt
while away the long tedious hour'
Of an Alaskan Winter.
It is the opinion of this writel
that very few of the colonists vii