Valley frontiersman., 1952-03-27
Valley Freniiersman
Defense Potentiul
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houses tuf l3o00 man days and r domestic sGppilgs foI a0.00e man days canned goods. for %. 100 man days ln retail warehouses md 36 GOO from domestic sup piles Meat and meat products es- 'maicd 60 domestic supply would 'ake care Of 5000 man days. .r re'all warehouses. aB0 Curstu, production of fresh milk lE tir Valley would take care uf an es- 'matea 2609a persons dasly
 Hospital and medical fsclllt,. p the Valley as listed T inc ta. port are as follows fWo resident physicians and one dentist sup ulemcnted bv one public health nurse hospital facilities for IT together Wsth additional facilities hat m.gn' be lmpguvIsed at the school m.nc-arca barracks. ARA building and Ekiu'ua Project warehouse ta provide an a16.- 'lonal 500 beds.
 Te e D h O n c communications were reported as radImentary ln he Valley with fire protection described as better organized but nampered n urban areas by ln- adequate water supplies.
 Special emphasis H aS attached 10 the community's greatest needs from a defense standpoint and organized efforts being made 10 meet these needs. An adequate water supply and distribution ,yStem. better hospital facilities. and an improved telephone net were listed as the greatest needs from the standpoint ot civilian defense.
 The status of community p.o- Iects that should be included ln civilian defense planning were described as follows:
 New High School. Planning phase is nearly completed. Con- ~truction is to begin in the nes.t l8 months. Upon completion 1t 10 house 50 hospital beds.
 New Hospital. Planning phase WilI serve in a critical emergency nearly completed. Upon com pletion within q months a com pIetely modern 24-bed hospital (expandabIe to 35 bedS) will be available
 Water Supply. Planning is com pleted and we'll has been drilled that supplies 150 gallons per min ute. Bids for construction Of storage and distribution facilities are to be called for within the next 60 days. Construction is 10 be started this coming summer. Assistance in obtaining prioritle5 on controlled items will assist in expediting this work.
 Telephone Net. Responsibility for the local phone system has been assumed by the city. Efforts are under way to improve and extend this system. Prlorltles are anticipated to be serious bottle neck.
 Roads. Responsibility for main taining city streets has been as- sumed by the city. Two heavy road maintainers are nov owned Dv the city. These will supple nent ARC equipment during 2 Territorial emergency.
 Fire Prevention. Responsibility for maintaining and operating fire fighting equipment has beer asuned by the city. Four mobile fire units are now Operatlonal served by part-time fire che. and volunteer crews.
 In summarizing the defense DO tential of Palmer and the Valley the Council pointed out that thl' area will serve as a dispersal cen ter and focal point during aI emergency. It will also be the re ceiving point and distribution center for additional foodstockS It will serve as the center 0 health and medical services.
 Present medical and telephon' services must necessarily be sup plemented to provide minimum acceptable standards , the repor emphasizes. Any expansion Q this potential will require addi tional assistance, chiefly in stock piling food and medical supplies Present status can be tremen dously improved within an estl mated two years by assistance Il obtaining priorities for project now under way.