The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-30
rhe nnttle AbDey. So Galle COLE. n

M .he ,ditar OF The Times Dispatch:
s,r-IInder caption of "a Rcasonanic
"a an,,est" n veteran asks IN your
issue of yesterday several questions
IN reference to the funds which nave
been raised for the erection OF inc
."f,onfederate Memorial Institute tthe
name OF this memorial ts designal 81 ~
the cnarter authorizing It's erect'cl,l,
and about other matters per.uin,ns
thereto. veteran says ne makes
these inquiries at the suggestion o,
10 eood1y number of his comrades
nd saws In conclusion that these COM
,ndes ..are ready and willing TO aci
cant any plain, honest candid stale
mont that may be submitted. ana ne
.than adds. sit is the general impression
that the delay In erecting TINS memo
rial is inexcusable, IL not reprehens'-
ble."
lin to this time, / have made nc
n,hiic statement about this matter out
side of my official reports mace as
treasurer Of the Confederate Memorial
Association, and submitted each !ea'
Ia the United Confederate Veterans.
In my report submitted to the veterans
nj Mobile In April last. stated that
,here ,yas to my credit as treasurer, lrl
the PIanterS' National Bank, or .n,s
arity. S111,695.47. and In the Nirsih'A
Trust Company, slol.+6f.H, asgre-
eating s213,159.5s. Both OF these ue.
lpositorics pay interest at the rhtc o.
= per cent. per annum. whicn lh.cFesV
&c Compounded every SIX months. THESE
amounts. with the accumulated Interest,"
from the date of my last report, are
still In these repositories. subject onls|
IN some checks for small amounts fofI
the expenses Of some of the trustees
In attending the last reunion. And
here, let me say, that whilst i th,nkI
these expenses are perfectly legiiimatel
and should be paid out of the Interest,"
saccruing on this fund. as they nave,
5been from time to time. / have simply.
as a matter of personal pride arising
from the fact that I am the custodian
of this fund declined to accept any
compensation of any kind either for,
expenses incurred by me In attend
ance on these reunions or otherwise,
and not a dollar of this fund has been
used by me personally for any pur-
pose.
Now, as to the delay which has DC.
Cured in the progress OF this work. l
am not at'all surprised that those who
are not informed of the facts should
be FESTIVE on account OF these de-
luyS, tstllu IO JIG Soulu IoN NOApS~
and worried and chafed under these
delays more than have. But. without
going into details. l deem 1t right TO
say that these delays. nearly all of
which have been accustomed by the diff
lcultie., OF securing a location for this
memorial. have been simply uuavoid-
able.
These delays arose first from the
diversity Of opinion among The ladies'
and tho Veterans as to where the
building should be erected In this city,,
and, secondly between the executive
committee and the city authorities IS
TO what location the city could or
would grant for that purpose. AT the
last meeting Of the General Assembly
| Of Virginia, tho city of Richmond hav-
Ing granted one location which was
not satisfactory to many veterans,
lsome of these Went before the Legis-
| lnture of Virginia and obtained the
grant OF lot in rear of the Soldiers
| Home, which is in every way suitable.
( This lot WAS promptly accepted by the
/ executive committee and reported to-.
lind approved by the United Confed-
crate Veterans at the luceting held In
/ Mobile. Until the site was thus OBJ
|tnined and fixed upon, the executive
}comm!ttea, could, of course, do moth
ling In the way of erecting the building.
Since that time. the resident members
have been pushing the work Of pro-
|curing suitable plans, lust as rapidly
as it was possible for them to do So.
Those who have mad no experience in
work OF this character have no con-
lception Of the difficulties and neces-
fsary delays which are encountered at
4 every step. and no one would be moro
.|sdelighted to be relieved of the respon-
|sibilities which attach to the positions
occupied by Mr.. Ellyson and myself
A than ourselves.
\ 1t Is proper to say that Mr., Ellyson
i Invent before Lee Camp some two or
\ three weeks ago and made u full and
|candid statement about this whole
4 matter, which I understand was salts
4 factory to the veterans present. aad
several publications have already ap-
4 peared In the newspapers about our
work Which emanated from him. We
i have no concealments to make about
llanythIng we have done or will do in
4 regard TO ibis Whole matter. II Is
4 a labor of Love- With us, and tho com
sIpletion OF our task is looked forward
to by us as a period of the greatest
relief imaginable.
j Respectfully submitted
GEORGE 1. CEIRlSrIAN.s ~
SRichmond,F September 20, 1910
II s3fT t44 49, sstisi8tS