The frontiersman., 1952-06-12
City Counea Must
 Face Two Important Problems Next Week

The City Council will take up
 two important problems at it's
 regular session next week We'd
 nesday in the Coop Club Room.
 One of these concerns the con-
 finued operation of the Matanus-
 ka Telephone Company; the
 other, a decision regarding the
 office of City Clerk.
 Time is running out on the
 decision as to whether or not
 the city will take up its option to
 purchase the telephone company
 from Maynard Sands. The city
 has been operating the company
 under a temporary three-month
 agreement that expired June l.
 Although the agreement provided
 for the extension of this tempor-
 ary management, fast-approach-
 ing crisis will necessitate a rather
 large outlay of money for equip
 ment. The present telephone
 switchboard has become danger
 ous to operate; several times it
 has caught fire in the past week.
 Service is slow and often has to
 be interrupted because of the con- dition of the cords or lack of them. Already in the depot, but still unclaimed, is a shipment of
 100 telephones for which the city must pay over $2,OOO. Weeks ago the city authorized the Anchor age Telephone Go. to go ahead
 and put into operation two position manual board which was almost new when Anchorage con- verted to automatic telephone service. The city was to pay the cost of renovation-estimated at over $2,000, and pay Anchorage a modest rental fee. At that time it was believed that the board would be ready for operation in Palmer in three weeks.
 Asked about progress on the renovation of the board in last weeks Council meeting, none of the members of the telephone committee seemed to know. City Attorney Harold Butcher said he had talked recently to Bill Con- nally, manager of the Anchorage Telephone Co.,, and he had re- ported that nothing had been done Butcher reported Connally as saying that he had better idea: Why couldn't the city of Palmer make use of the Anchorage dial | telephone service? With the in- stallation of dial phones in Pal mer and the construction of two or three more lines, Connally be- lieved Anchorage might be able to handle the Valleys telephone service for perhaps $2O monthly besides charge (possibly whole sale) fer each customer, Butcher To Council members, who have been authorizing $500 more in telephone expenses than has been received in revenue, this seemed like a to be considered Al Hagan was designated as chair man of the telephone committee and was authorized to get details of such a plan from Connally this week.
 A more discouraging note was by Attorney Butcher the settlement ot MVTC liabilities with the Collec- tor of Internal Revenue. Settle nent of these liabilities by the city at a considerable discount was one of the factors on which eventual purchase of the company was contingent. Butcher had talk ed to a representative of the Col ector of Internal Revenue. Ac- to him, chances of such l settlement were slim. Early in- formation regarding such settle nent is expected, since the fed .ral agents are in the Anchorage lrea and are expected in Palmer his week.
 Regarding the office of City Clerk, William Head still appear d adamant in his determination o stick by his resignation of May I, although he has been continu- ~~ Ao Lo~I1o o;&x, A,,e;0oce v>ool