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330 REVEREND EZRA FISHER

labor on my hands. We were much rejoiced to learn that you had succeeded in securing the services of our esteemed Br. Chandler for Oregon, but regret that he must be so long detained from the field so much needing his labors. We hoped confidently that I should have been relieved from at least a part of the responsibilities of the school before another summer opened upon us. But now, should our school pros- per as the present signs seem to indicate and we should be able to complete our building and open a boarding house at moderate charge, we shall have more scholars than two men can faithfully teach, unless the common school system should go into effect in our city. 225 Should this take effect, our school will be reduced in numbers, but not injured in char- acter. We must aim at elevating the character of the school as fast as the demands of the people require it. We know nothing of Mr. Thurston's arrangements with teachers for Or- egon City. 226 We as a Board of Trustees for the Oregon City College have never thought of corresponding with any man or body of men to meet our demands but your Board. And we see no good reason at this time for changing our pol- icy. We ardently trust that your Board will not let the ap- pointment of Br. Chandler fail through any rumor you may hear from Boston or Washington. Should a good Baptist teacher reach Oregon and find himself disappointed in pros- pects, we should of course do what we could to introduce him to useful employment, but we have no thought of filling this vacancy with any other than the man of your appoint- ment. The average number of our school this quarter is be- tween 50 and 60 and we have had more than 80 different scholars since the quarter commenced. You will see by this that I have work enough for one man aside from my min- isterial duties. We are obliged to suspend the work of our house for a few weeks in consequence of the sickness of Sis-

225 This refers to the efforts made in 1849 to establish a public school system in Oregon City. Rev. G. H. Atkinson was appointed school commissioner, but the system of free graded schools was deemed too expensive, and the "female semi- nary" was opened instead. Mrs. E. E. Dye, in Joseph Gaston, Portland, Its History and Builders, Portland, 1911; 1:665.

226 See note 211.