"Office of
"Washington National Monument Society,
"Washington, July 1, 1856.
"In accordance with an order of the Board of Managers, the public are requested to pay no more contributions for the Washington National Monument to agents heretofore commissioned by the Board.
"This notice is not to be construed as a censure on the agents, but it is designed to effectuate a general settlement of the affairs of the Society. The Board is well assured of eventual success in the patriotic enterprise in which it is engaged, but it has resolved to suspend further proceedings by agency until a plan, now under consideration, for combining efficiency, promptitude, and safety, is matured.
"Balances due from agents, or offerings from independent contributors, are to be sent by draft, payable to the order of the Treasurer of Washington National Monument Society, enclosed in a letter to the undersigned.
"By order: Samuel Yorke AtLee,
"Secretary W. N. M. S.
"N. B.—Editors throughout the United States will confer a favor on the Society and benefit the public by publishing this notice and sending to the Secretary a copy of the paper containing the same."
Manifestly, the rival claims of the two Boards of Managers, and the office, books, papers, and property of the Society and the Monument itself, being in the possession and control of a narrow political faction, practically arrested the work of the Society's agents in the collection of funds and further building operations.
The "Know-Nothing" Board, as apparent evidence of its earnestness in the premises, and presumably to support its appeal for funds (several later ones being issued) and to establish public confidence, proceeded to add two courses of stone to the height of the shaft by the use of marble on the ground when it took possession. But this marble, in the main, were blocks which had been theretofore rejected and condemned as unfit for use. In later years, on the final resumption of work on the Monument, these courses were removed by the engineer in charge of its construction.
The receipts of the Society for the year 1855, from January 3d to February 20th, amounted to $695; for the remainder of that year, to $51.66—evidence of the result of the dispossession of the Society and the disinclination of the public to contribute funds under the existing conditions.
The "Know-Nothing" Board continued in possession of the Monument until October 25, 1858.