Between July and September, 1874, over two hundred pledges were received by the Society from organizations in every part of the country, chiefly, however, from the Masonic Order, Odd-Fellows, Knights of Pythias, Independent Order of Red Men, Temperance, and other fraternal bodies. Subscriptions ranged from five to fifty dollars each. Circular letters were prepared and sent directly to the executive officers of all organizations. Interest seemed once more aroused in the completion of the Monument, the contingent subscriptions continuing to be made.
February 22, 1875, the Society adopted an address to the country, which, referring to the plan of contingent contributions payable direct to its Treasurer, continued:
"The result of their first appeal in this direction has been such as to strengthen their faith. * * * The organizations which have been thus far reached have responded with subscriptions which, if generally and promptly emulated in amount by kindred institutions throughout the land, would secure the completion of the structure during the Jubilee Year. Had their recent appeal fallen dead upon the country and yielded no fruits, they would have been inclined to despair of ever reaching success in the great undertaking so long entrusted to their care."
A special letter to the railway and banking corporations embodying the "contingent" plan produced many substantial subscriptions.
In June, 1876, the Society published a further appeal, signed by its officers, U. S. Grant, ex officio President; W. W. Corcoran, First Vice-President; Robert C. Winthrop, Second Vice-President; J. B. H. Smith, Treasurer, and John B. Blake, Secretary, requesting collections in churches and Sunday schools throughout the country on the 2d of July following. This appeal was endorsed and signed by the pastors of the different religious denominations in the City of Washington. Application to the management of the Centennial Exposition to place contribution boxes for the Monument in the Exposition buildings was denied; but permission having been granted by proper authority, boxes were placed in the State buildings on the Exposition grounds in June, 1876. By the prosecution of this plan some $90,000 had been contingently subscribed when the inflow of subscriptions was arrested by unexpected action by Congress in the matter. The "contingent" plan had been one of the most successful the Society had ever pursued, and had given every assurance of final success.
Deferring to the opinion of Lieutenant Marshall the height of the Monument was reduced to 485 feet.
While pursuing its "contingent" plan of contributions, February 3, 1876, the Society appointed a special committee, composed of Rear Admiral Levin M. Powell (chairman), Hon. Walter S. Cox, Dr. John B. Blake, Dr. Charles F. Stansbury, and Fred D. Stuart, to prepare and present to Congress a memorial praying an appropriation in aid of its efforts as a contribution toward completing the Monument.
February 6, 1876, Hon. George F. Edmunds offered in the Senate the following resolution, which was considered by unanimous consent, agreed to, and referred to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds:
"Resolved, That the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds be, and it is hereby, instructed to inquire into the expediency of making an adequate provision for the speedy completion of the Washington Monument in the City of Washington, and that it have leave to report by bill or otherwise."
February 10, 1876, Mr. Edmunds laid before the Senate a memorial of the Society, presented by its committee, which was read and referred to the Committee on Public Buildings and Grounds.