THE HISTORY OF THE OREGON MISSION PRESS
By Howard Malcolm Ballou
II.
The plates mentioned as illustrating the Pickering alphabet, adopted for the second edition of the Nez-Perces First Book, and the cover of the reading book, were inadvertently omitted from the preceding portion of this article but are here shown.
The writer can find no authority for the statement of Dr. Myron Eells that an eight-page book was printed in 1840. Mr. Rogers' report to the Mission is conclusive that no such book was printed prior to September of that year, and Mr. Walker is authority that the press was not used after the printing of the 52-page book until November, 1842.
It seems most probable that Dr. Eells had in mind the small book of select portions of scripture which Mr. Spalding mentions printing in 1843, of which no copy is known to exist.
At the sixth annual meeting of the Oregon Mission at Waiiletpu, Monday, June 14th, 1841, it was voted :
"Resolve That it be made the duty of the Committee to use their discression as to the finishing the printing office or not, and whether it shall be completed at Clear Water or at any other suitable place, or station, and also for hiring a printer."
The printing of any book for the benefit of the Spokan or Flat Head Indians was much longer delayed, as no other book was printed until December, 1842.
At the annual meeting of the mission at Clear Water, September 2 to 5, 1839, the following assignments had been made:
"Also. That Mr. Walker be appointed to prepare an elementary book in the Spokan language & Mr. Eells his reviewer—
Also. That Mr. Eells be appointed to prepare a small arithmetic & Mr. Walker his reviewer—"
