WINTER GRIPS
ALASKA COLONY
Matanuska Takes Stock of
Summer's Work; Wives
Are Dissatisfied
PALMER, Alaska W—The Matanuska "Chechakos" — the mid-
western colonists—took stock, Monday after a half year of Alaska
life.
Beset by both disappointments
and successes, hardships and criticism, the former Wisconsin, Michigan and Minnesota farmers were
able to take time to assess the colony's present status. For every six
families that came here, one has
returned to the United States. With
winter upon them, they were having- their first "breathing spell."
The children looked ahead two
weeks to Thanksgiving and a. big
celebration.
--Deny Pioneering Purpose--
"We didn't come pioneering," Insisted Mrs. I. Sandvik, formerly of
Moose Lake, Minn. "I've done real
pioneering and know the difference. I wouldn't have come if a
modern home hadn't been promised
Mrs. Oscar Kertulla, formerly of
Swan River, Minn., reflected some
of the criticism of the colonists,
that things had been different than
they had expected.
"We would not have come if a
good home hadn't been promised
us. We will like it fine if the corporation lives up to its promises.
We like Alaska."
The colonists have found, as the
late Will Rogers said on his visit
here, "pioneering for spinach is
different from pioneering for gold."
Dissension Arises
With the slowness
tion early in the summer and their
life in a tent community, dissension
arose. Transient workers from the
United States were criticized. Lieut.
Col. Leroy P. Hunt of the United
States marine corps and his staff
sailed only this week back to the ,
United States, the last of various
missions from Washington to
"straighten things out."
The control of the colony is now
left in the hands of a board of Alaskan directors who live in this area.
Leaders in the colony have countered criticism of the project in the
United States, including that by disappointed colonists who have returned, by praise of the project and
its leaders. Lieutenant Colonel
Hunt said the project was "worth
its weight in gold" when he left.
Status of Colony
Six months to the day from the
chilly spring evening they scrambled down out of Alaska railroad
freight cars into the valley, the colonists pointed Saturday to some
such a picture as this:
Families disappointed and returned to the United States, 34;
families still here,  170. Two more
Cabins now ready for occupano
or moved into, 168; still under construction 2. Families in their homes
157.
Wells drilled, 173; being drilled,
155.
One temporary school built (to
be used later as community hall.)
Barns built, 57; basement of central school complete.
Community gardens and some
farming projects harvested, but colonists still mostly dependent upon
the corporation store.
Civic Center Completed
Civic center, consisting of «
trading post, power house, warehouse, garage, hospital, bakery,
dormitory for nurses, teachers, employes, and houses for project manager and doctor completed.
Births 18, of which 12 have been
girls. Deaths 3.
Numerous minor diseases early
In summer, scarlet fever, chicken
pox,  mumps,  several cases of ear