Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 17.djvu/339



CORRESPONDENCE 331

ter Johnson, which has necessarily engrossed Br. Johnson's time and care for the last four weeks, but hope the work will soon be progressing. But the rainy season will not allow us to hope to be able to occupy the building till the opening of another spring. Our lumber is all green and it is becoming difficult to collect subscriptions fast.

The peculiar features of the Oregon land bill make it un- safe for us to leave the college claim unoccupied after the first day of next month. 22 7 It therefore devolves upon me to move onto the claim. The erecting a temporary house claims some of my time, when it is much needed to forward the work of our school house, but we trust God will give us patience and strength to go through this part of the work. I trust you will make good use of Br. Chandler's time while in the old states in making him acquainted with the most efficient patrons of education and securing so much of public favor as will insure to our institution that kind of aid which must be derived from abroad. 228 I mean books and necessary apparatus. School books at this time cannot be had in Oregon. This day four scholars were taken out of my school purely because no school books could be obtained in the country. And, unless we get books soon, similar cases will be no un- common occurrence with us.

November 16. Arrangements should be entered into im- mediately to keep our school supplied with school books, at least, without fail. I wrote you on this subject in my last. We should be kept constantly advised of the best systems of common school books and classical text books. I hope Br. Chandler will make the necessary arrangements with some book store or young men's association to meet our wants. I have written the Cor. Sec. A. B. Publication Society on the importance of supplying Oregon in part with religious read-

227 The organic act organizing Oregon Territory had made void all titles ob- tained under the laws of the provisional government. By the donation land law of 1850 a four-years' residence was required before title could be obtained to the lands granted under it. Bancroft, Hist, of Ore. 11:260-261.

228 Mr. Chandler originally came to Oregon to take" charge of the school in Oregon City. Mattoon, Bap. An. of Ore. 1:76. See also note 205.