The frontiersman., 1952-07-24
( of ( Sparks Campaign for Valley Roads
Gripe Session Gives Way to Overall PIdn for Valley Road Development

A special Chamber of Com merce meeting held yesterday in the Coop Club Room spearhead- ed a Valley-wide drive for new roads and better maintenance of present ones in this area.
 It was agreed by those present that a complete plan of proposed new roads and recommended im- provementS for present ones should be the first step in the drive to get better roads in the Valley. Also agreed upon was a priority system for each of the proposals included in the over all plan. Unanimous approval gave the number one priority to Wasilla Road.
 Charles Wilson, Territorial con- servationist, presided at the meet ing, which was attended by Pat Carter and Walter Iceland of Wasilla, Victor Cottini of Little Susitna Lodge, Ed Smith, Jan Koslosky, Ray Nelson, Betty Mears, M D. Snodgrass, and Bill Rempel.
 The meeting was held in preparation for a visit from Alas ka Road, Commission District En- gineer E. J. White, who will come to Palmer soon to discuss road planning in the Valley at the suggestion of Delegate Bartlett.
 During the discussion at yester- days meeting, it was brought out that there is still good agricultural land that remains undeveloped because of lack of access roads. Fhe plight ot honesteaders who have settled on sites in anticipa- ton of roads being extended to them was also discussed. The gen. eral opinion was that the Valley had been neglected in the Terri torial road building program in favor of other areas with less need. The new CantweQ road was cited as case in point. Ire over this road built only for the DOT cupines up there and the tourists" became sharp-edged when, ac- cording to Iceland and Carter, the ARC moved lumber stored in Wailla for Valley bridges up to the Cantwell project. Carter pointed out that the Wasilla school buses couldn't operate for two weeks last year because the bottom dropped out of the roads around there. They also spoke of the need for the extenson of the Wasilla road from Pittman to Willow to open up territory that has been partially settled already by enterprising Alaskans.
 Other needed road develop ment were discussed, including that of the road to Goose Bay.
 Although it was felt that the Valley has not received it's share of the Territorial tax revenues from gasoline sales, it was the consensus of opinion that people in this area should not try to bet ter themselves at the expense of other communities. Rather, it was agreed that the Chamber of Com merce should help ARC in mak- ing a complete and realistic plan for proposed road development in the Valley and then have every organization in the Valley go to bat for appropriations to make the plan reality.
 A Chamber of Commerce com mittee will be appointed to draw up a plan of proposed road needs. In making up the plan, members of the committee will study de- tailed maps made from Soil Con- servation Service surveys and will make personal studies of the areas involved. Those present at the Wednesday meeting hoped that an orderly progression of inn provements and developments would come from an overall plan instead of road here and road there in answer to individual pressureS.