Page:Oregon Historical Quarterly volume 23.djvu/213

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remarks upon the land and buildings I will now turn to the points more particularly named in your letter. That you should entertain some fears for the Board to involve itself is not surprising to me at all. It took me a number of months patient watching and study here on the premises before I was prepared to ocupy any very decided position. But I now think there is no fear of taking any such action as may be recommended in these papers. There is reason to watch closely guard carefully question fully, and advise as understandingly as the nature of the case will allow. That their is no reason to fear pecuniary responsibility in the case is obvious from the fact that under the present administration the Institute is paying off all its debts has money or wheat on hand and supporting itself in Every Particular you will perceive from the minutes that James H. Wilber, is principal with his Lady as assistant and they have a mist superiour School there are two departments a primary one taught by Mrs Wilber numbering 36 Studants at 2.50 pr quarter of 11 weeks, and a higher department taught by the principal with 42 students at 3.50 & 4.50 pr quarter total number of studants 76. Badly as Broth Wilbers services are needed in the work of the ministry proper I am compelled to consent for him to labour in the Institute and all his powers physical mental and spiritual and all the capabilities of his beloved wife are tasked to upmost compared to the importance of more immediately training the intilect and Heart this cannot be effected without money Our Church by preocupancy has an undoubted right to stand upon vantage ground in this particular but rather than retard the work or predudice the kindred questions of education and piety I would let all land claims & town sites go to Indians or speculators in up town lots and throw our cause at once upon the community at once for patronage and support Therefore let not the question of sending a teacher depend on the repurchase of the property, by all means do the one and I think you will perceive that more than all his salary, even at the present low prices (Low for Oregon) will be paid by the bills of tution. But were it not so, if every part of the salary of the teacher must be paid by the Miss.y Soc.y. I should think a teacher ought to be sent from the States and sustained by the Board for this purpose. Every other School in the Territory charges nearly twice as much as we for tuition. Our