Office of the Historian

Mr. Terrell to Mr. Olney.

Legation of the United States,
Constantinople, February 10, 1897. (Received Feb. 27.)
No. 1169.]

Sir: I have the honor to inclose the copy of a letter from Rev. A. W. Hubbard, at Sivas, containing answers to questions regarding missionary interests. He gives further evidence that no schools taught by American missionaries have been closed during Mr. Cleveland’s present term.

The effort made by our missionaries to take charge of the Turkish school system with Armenian teachers who were under their control had failed, and such schools had very generally been closed before 1893, as a former dispatch informed you.

I have, etc.,

A. W. Terrell.
[Inclosure in No. 1169.]

Mr. Hubbard to Mr. Terrell.

Sivas [without date].

Dear Sir: I reply to yours of December 30, 1896.

As to closing schools:

1. No schools taught by Americans in our mission station (Marsovan is in our vilayet, but not in our Sivas station) have been closed since March, 1893. Schools under American supervision and supported to a considerable extent by American funds, but employing Armenian teachers, have been broken up by the massacres in Gurun, Ashode, and Divrik.

Schools taught by Americans:

2. Taught somewhat by Americans in Sivas station are Sivas Normal School for Boys, consisting of three departments—primary, intermediate, and high—course of eleven years; Sivas Graded Schools for Girls, primary and intermediate and high, covering a course of seven years.

[Page 577]

Schools owned by religious organizations in America, and value:

(a)
The missionary residences now occupied by Messrs. Perry and Hubbard and Miss Brewer, and the Girls’ Boarding School connected with them at Sivas, and about three-quarters of an acre of land, all much increased in value now, at first cost $6,600.
(b)
The chapel at Sivas and connecting yard, cost thirty years ago (now much increased) $2,640.
(c)
Two schoolhouses, boys’ boarding-school rooms, all connected with said chapel, cost $900.
(d)
Chapel and nearly 3 acres at Tocat, $2,200.

Average school attendance:

3. Average school attendance in schools taught by Americans: Sivas Graded School (normal) for Boys, 300; Sivas Graded School for Girls, 300. All Armenians at present.

Besides the above, we are just founding two orphanages at Sivas, one for Armenian boys and another for girls. We propose to care thus for 100 or more orphans, to whom the Americans will occasionally teach a thing.

4. I have made a report of injuries to our mission work and sent it to our Sivas consulate for them to add what information they have to it and to forward all.

5. The distance from the missionary residences to the nearest consular post is about a three minute walk, which brings us under the United States and British flags, and a four-minute walk brings us under the French tricolor.

Yours, most respectfully,

A. W. Hubbard.