The Waterbury Democrat., 1937-08-28

Shortly, a two-year plan will go into effect. It will give each col- onist who needs it enough work relief to meet his running ex- penses. Each colonist will thus be definitely subsidized for two more years.
 The government expects all col- oniSts to be on their own feet within two years. But I don't think they will. It is my offhand guess that 1t will be 10 years.
 How Colonists Feel
 For two days I have driven around over Matanusga Valley in 0 borrowed car, all by myself, stopping and talking to whenever I ran onto,
 I have talked with at least a dozen farmers or their wives. None of them was unwilling to talk. Most of them were pretty well satisfied. Almost everyone had some criticism. But most of them were optimistic, and sold on the Idea that they could make Q living,
 The first place I stopped was the home of MT. and Mrs, Allen Fredericks. Things are going all right with the Fredericks. They did have some pretty bad run-inS with the early managers, but things have settled down now, and, the Fredericks are among the most satisfied of the colonists.
 What don't you have up here that you had in the States3' l asked Mrs. Fredericks. What have you had to give up7"
 Nothing" she said. We didn't have anything in the States"
 William Hynig can't see how things are going to turn out. It looks mighty blue to him.
 But in spite of all the dark clouds, Hynig says he's crazy about Alaska, and would sure hate to leave.
 Push" Brought Success
 Walter Pippel Is often spoken of as Matanuskas prize colonist - the colony'S No. 1 farmer. There really are others just as good. but he Is unquestionably one of the best.
 Pippel Is 6 truck gardner. He used to raise vegetables around Minneapolis, and as soon as he landed here, he started right in on vegetables exclusively. He knows the game and he works hard, and his wife and three chil- dren all help.
 Pippel has 6 lot of get.up.andt go about him. He has worked up his own market in Anchorage, 56 miles away. and makes c couple Of trips a week delivering vege. tables.
 Four Months-and Hope
 Elmer and Bernice Heroux are new residents. They paid their own way up from Minnesota. and have been here only about four months.
 DO you think you can make 1t go9" asked them. And I've never heard such yearning in the voice of . man as was in his answer.
 "Oh. I hope so," Heroux said. I've really got my heart set on this place. It's the cnly real home of our own we've ever had"
 Matanuska farmers don't, of course, look any different from other farmers. And yet there is a difference, q difference in spirit. It has been created In them. I be. lieve, since their arrival here.
 The government has furnished them everything (even though they do have to pay 1t back): the government has advised them, sheltered them, lent It's shoulder for them to weep on. And all this has developed in them what you might call "baby psychology"
 The colonists lean on the gov- ernment. A little of the farmers notorious independence is gone ct Matanuska.
 Crop Limitations 4
 Farming itself is different In Matanuska from what 1t was back where the colonists came from. Up here you don't stand and look across vast fields of growing grain.
 And you never will, either. For big crops, grown directly for the market, can't be raised up here. Corn doesn't grow at all. And only a little wheat. And fruit trees don't thrive.
 After vegetables, the main crop is oats and beans. mixed. They say 1t makes wonderful feed, even for rogs. Any kind of legume crops does well here. Potatoes flourish. So does hay.
 The Matanuska coionists have often been referred to as "creani puff pioneers" guess that's a fair title in . way, for they do have every modern comfort that a farmer in the States has, plus a few more. z
 And yet, nice as it sounds, gct- firan afnfslfahaA fse NRmf san1saSn A