December
Seventh
Nineteen sixteen.

Mr. J. W. Pless,
Marion, N.C.

Dear Will:

I enclose you a copy of the statement¹ which I have made to the papers as to the Mitchell monument. Some months ago you wrote me that the C. C. & O. Railway Company would contribute $300. or $350. I wish to turn over all of this money and promises for contribution to General Carr. Will you please get this contribution in definite shape so that I can turn it over to him. General Carr is going to build the handsomest kind of monument up there. I feel sure he will do this even if he has to build it himself, but I want to help him all I can.

Your friend,

[unsigned]

1. A copy of the press announcement was not found among the papers of Locke Craig. Most likely, he was referencing his press statement tasking Julian S. Carr with leading efforts to build a monument to Elisha Mitchell atop Mount Mitchell. See "General Carr Will Rebuild Monument," Asheville Citizen, 13 December 1916.