| Summary: | Lynden Pullets Cackle In Alaska: 7100 White Leghorns From Local Farms Distributed To Colonists In Matanuska Valley. LYNDEN PULLETS CACKLE IN ALASKA. 7100 White Leghorns From Local Farms Distributed To Colonists In Matanuska Valley. J. L. Hoksbergen and son George returned Thursday from Palmer, Alaska, where they completed delivery of 5450 White Leghorn pullets to the federal govenrment's project in the Matanuska Valley. A second shipment of 1700 White Leghorn pullets from Lynden is being delivered now by Byron Ramerman, the birds being scheduled to arrive at Palmer during the last week. With eggs selling for fifty cents a dozen in Palmer, the transplanted Lynden pullets are expected to be a paying proposition for the colonists. The birds were distributed fifty to a colonist and were placed in small barns and chicken houses. There were partically no chickens in the colony before the Hoksbergen party arrived. The pullets which were sent north were hatched by the Hoksbergen Hatchery and they are intended for use as breeding stock for the colonists' future chick. Pullets Arrive Safely On the trip north from Lynden, the pullets in the Hoksbergen shipment were enroute one day by truck, six days on the S. S. McKinley and one day on the Alaska Railroad. They arrived in the best of condition and did not seem to suffer any ill effects from the trip. The general manager and the colonists expressed themsevles as well satisfied and commented especially upon the health and size of the birds. "I believe that the Matanuska, project will be a success, provided that real farmers go there," Mr. Hoksbergen said. "The government is considering a naval air base near Fairbanks which would provide a market for dairy and poultry products. Egg prices average 50 cents a dozen. The colonists are very enthusiastic about their country and are trying to make a living. "The valley is ten by twenty miles, about half tillable, surrounded by mountains and the bay. It contains plenty of wild grass and is mostly all wooded with spruce as the principal kind of tree. The soil is very rich and vegetables and crops grow very rapidly. Cabbages grow to forty pounds and are tender and crisp. The growing season is short but the summer days are long. In June, it is light all night, and the midnight sun is seen. Four thousand acres of wild grass are being used now for hay. The climate is about the same as here, the coldest temperature last winter being 17 below zero. Construct Large School. "In the community center at Palmer, the government ahs constructed a large school, 400 pupils and 17 teachers, a large auditorium, modern and best equipped hospital in Alaska, dormitory, warehouse, commissary, post office and garage. A creamery, cannery, another warehouse, and several large chicken houses are being constructed now. "About 300 miles of gravelled road have been built. Colonists have modern homes equipped with radios and good furniture. At Palmer, there is a radio station and homes for the general manager and his assistants. A large experiment station is located nearby. A branch of the railroad leads to Palmer."
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