Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1891-03-19
A FAVORITE CHILD
THE WAY TIE BUREAU 0F AMERICAN RE-
PUBLIOS is TREATED
By Secretary Of State Blaine, Whose Pet Scheme ii
is-He is Getting Great Deal Of Advsr
tSsmsnt Out Of 1.-THE Scope
Of the Enterprise.
,o,cial 7si,oram 10 the R.ois,er.

| Cpcttde fcArgfA AHN 70 fftr AtHteiff+
| WASHINGTON, March 1S.-The Bureau
Of the American Republics, which has
been in operation here for the past few
months, is a unique branch of the gov
srnment service. 1t ha. got tO be one
OF the most active branches OF the State
Department, and is the pride OF Mr..
Blaine and the promise OF his ambition.
Ii is referred 10 by some as the bureau
of the Blaine boom. This is hardly a
fair designation, for though it may
prove bOom-building concern, in can
do so only in the legitimate way OF be-
ing success. The only sort OF cam
paign work that appears TO be doing
there is that which may come from pop
ularizing an idea with which the Maine
statesman has succeeded in identifying
himself. In this way there is un-
doubtedly an immense effort being made,
and. of course. whatever success at
tends the efforts, Mr.. Blaine expects to
get the benefit of. He has a very faith
full and Shrewd worker in the person oI
Mr.. William L. Curtis, who has, too, his
own personal ambition in the enterprise.
Curtis is probably, in part, responsible
for Mr.. Blaine's enthusiasm III the
work, for he has the most astonishing
capacity for keeping up an interest IN
any little scheme of the sort he has on
foot, and making it appear in the most
captivating light. Whether or not
the Bureau proves of any prac-
tical value both Mr.. Blaine and Mr..
Curtis are going to get deal OF ad-
vertising out of it. Mr. Blalne'S attl-
tude towards the Bureau, rs like that
towards favOrite child, and the repre-
sentatives of all the American republics
manifest deep interest in the work 1t
is practically bureau OF commercial
information for the commercial world,
and the effort is TO make It's services oI
great value TO all persons In any way IN
terested in business with any OF the re-
publics of this continent. There is
scarcely information which business
man i'm one of the countries could want
about any of the other countries which
this bureau does not undertake. to fur
nish. They have succeeded well in Sc
curing the cooperation of the officials
of each government.
The headquarters are AT the corner Oi
Lafayette Square, opposite the White
House grounds. 1t is large, old-faSh-
ioned residence which has boen leased
at considerable expense. a polished
brass plate by the side of the door an
nounces that the Bureau of American
Republics is to be found within. a boy |
sits at the door TO receive visitors, VINO
are not admitted indiScriminately rs IN
other bureaus. The visitor is asked for
his card and is uShered into nicely lur-
nished reception room TO await an
nouncement. Soft carpets yield To his
tread, paintings around the walls please
his eve, while the comfortable easy |
chairs make his waiting less tedious
should II happen ~ be prolonged, ana
the heavy oak tables and well stocked |
book cases give an air ofelegance to the
surroundings. Rut under this solt
surface of uphol terry there are
some hard busirassS principles
Through the door c@Tks-Only two or
three. for the force is very small-may
be seen hard at work, and If the visit
tors business takes him to the 0iice
rooms above he will, though the same
elegance OF Appointment may be oO-
served, see that an immense amount OF
work is being done these by few men,
If one may Judge from appearances
The desks are piled with correSpoud-
epce and translatorS, stenographerS and
the rest have an air of business which
forbids long interruption. The force Is
small, consisting of the director, Mr.
Curtis. the secretary, Mr.. Bryan, VINO
was Mr.. Bayard'S private secretary
when that gentleman was Secretary oil
State, a statistician, two tranSlatorS,
one OF Portuguese and one of Spanish, !
and three clerks and Stenographers.
What they undertake to do with this
force is to collect and compile great
variety OF statistics relating to the bust
ness and commerce on this continent,
and to furnish the information 10 all
who apply for it. whether the applica-
tion comes from this country or from
one of the other republics. They have
already issued several publications,
some of which give such information
as a statement of the system oil
government of each OF the re-
publics. area, population of some OF the
principal cities, the resources and the
character OF trade. the exports and i'm
ports. the railroad and steamship facil-
tiles, the system of coinage weights
and measures the character OF their
money and the general condition OF civ
ilization. Tariff laws and custom regu-
lations are explained and the nomencla-
ture Of commerce in each country is
given. All sorts of questions come to
the bureau, and answers are generally
furnished. Sometimes it is necessary to
send to South America for the answer
to some questions propounded.