The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-11-02
"The nattle Abbey. 1sn-cnllea,.

To the Editor OF The Times Dispatch.
ar'-Several letters have recent,
appeared In your columns inquiring the
present status of the Battle Abbey
'so-calleu), some OF them complaining
OF the members of the executive COM
h!ttce IN charge OF the work. others
!ntindting that these gentlemen are
so absorbed with their private aiIairs
that they are neglectinE their duties
IN inns matter. and one OF these IN
quirieS asks where the funds are when
7 r!al building. and how these FUNDS
arg invested or have been used.
II is especially because OF these last
inquiries mat / deem IL proper 10 make
ans statement: | confess that | am
| sensitive. perhaps too much SO. when
| charged with any neglect OF any duty
70 my old Confederate comrades. and
+! especially so when inquiries are made
ABOUT funds OF which | am the custo-
oian, as | am of these. AS to the last
| named inquiry | repeat what l said
every dollar of this fund which haa
come TO my hands in the ten years that
nave been the treasurer is deposited
/ 10 my credit, as treasurer. in TWO of
the strongest banks OF this city, bear
ing ; per cent. interest. which is com
pounded every six months. and that tho
Cnly expenditures paid out by me have
neen paid on vouchers duly approved
| executive committee for actual ex-
pcnses .lcurred by members OF the
BOARD III attending the meetings in
paying small allowance to the acting
! secretary for necessary expenses, for
! advertising for designs and bids for
me building, and for part of the
lees of the architects in accorda nee
with our contract with them But +
repeat what l said on a former occa-
! sion. that not one cent OF this fund
! mas ever been pad TO me personally for
any expenses incurred by me in at
I tending meetings. or for any other
purpose or thing whatsoever. win
add that nave several times ten
cered my resignation as treasurer and
would be glad 10 be relieved of the
! responsibility which pertains to that
! Office would be glad also to tender
my resignation at any time as a mem
Der OF the board. and 10 let some one
else who thinks he can do better in
my position take my place
Now, few words about the DELAYS
and present status of the work: These
were fully explained both by Mr.. FL
tyson, the president. and myself in
communications heretofore published.
and Mr.. Ellyson invited any one who
desired further information to call on
MIN for It, The Evening Journal, of
ms city, too, has fully explained, this
matter, and 1 frequently wonder what
those who are making these inqutrie s
have done either in the way of work
! or contributions 10 forward the cree.
| ton of this memorial.
TO answer these inquiries in the
shortest space possible: Whilst / know
there have been unusual DELAYS about
| this matter. yet ! afliarm that these
| delays have been absolutely unavoid-
| q Die. as far as the members of the
! executive committee are concerned. II
| was necessary 10 obtain a lot first, and
! we had great difficulty and much t,ma
was consumed In enectng this. AS
soon we had obtained the lot, we
went to work at once to advertise for
designs. AS soon as these designs
came in one was selected and the arch
fleets notified and instructed to at once
prepare plans and specifications for a
| building not to exceed in cost $4,000,
tho amount authorized by the board to
! be expended for that purpose. As soon
as we received those plans and speciti-
cation we advertised for bids to erect
| the building. When these bids came
! in, the lowest was $4,000 or $4,000
| in excess of the amount authorized to
| be expended by us and several thou
! sand dollars in excess of the whole
amount we had in bank. 1t then be-
to so modify their design and reduce
the expenses of the erection of tho
building as to make smaller and less
expensive structure. These things the
promised to let us have the plans and
| specifications by about the first of De-
cember. we are, pressing them almost
daily to complete these designs at the
! earliest practicable moment. Mr. Ell
Tyson has been to Philadelphia, where
the architects reside, TWO or three times
| recently to see them and to see when
J we could get these modified plans and
specifica lions. AS soon as we can get
these. we viii advertise again for bids
and hope TO begin the erection of the
building certainly by the first of the
coming year. In q word. the members
of the committee have done everything
! that they could do to advance this
/ work; have checrfully given their time
| ana services to that end, and have left
mo stone Hnturned" to have the build
ing completed in the shortest period II
was possible for them to do so.
GEORGE l.. CHRISTIAN
J Richmond