The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-02-19
PICK Van NESS SITE
Land for American Republics
Building is Chosen.
COMMISSION WILL PURCHASE
Decides 10 Accept Offer of George
Washington University and VIII
Buy Five-acre Estate to Erect
Structure for Bureau-ChOice Con-
sidered Excellent for Many Reasons

The building commission. having in
charge the erection of the new building
for the Bureau of American Republics.
viii purchase the Van Ness property on
Seventeenth street northwest as the site
for the structure, FOR which Andrew Car
Hegie has contributed $4,000
The announcement that the commission
had accepted the offer OF the George
Washington University. owner OF the
property, was made yesterday afternoon
by Secretary Root, chairman OF the COM
mission. the other members being Assist
ant Secretary Of State Bacon and John
Barrett. director of the Bureau of Amer
lean Republics. The price paid for the
property was not made public by Secre-
tary Root, but he stated that it was
within the $4,000 appropriated by Con
gress TO buy a site for the building
The decision 10 accept the offer for the
Van Ness property was reached last Sat
urday At the meeting of the commission.
TO which, several Of the South and Central
American diplomats were invited in an
advisory capacity It is known that one
or two other sites were under considera-
ton, and it is said the members OF the
commission and their advisers were for a
time undecided as between the property
taken and other sites offered The loca-
ton of the Van Ness property. its near
ness TO other public buildings. especially
the State Department. and the fact that il
fitted into the Burnham plan for the inn
pTovement Of the Mall. We're deciding fac
tors. and it is said the members of the
commission and its advisers. who felt in-
clined 10 choose another site, gave way
before these weighty considerations.
Five Acres In Extent.
The tract to be taken for the site, as
soon as the details of transfer can be
worked out is five acres in extent fronts
on the upper end OF the Mall al Seven
tecnth street. and lies just south Of the
large Memorial Han erected by the
Daughters Of the Revolution. The old
Van Ness mansion still stands on the
I tract which with its outbundings viii
now be demolished TO make way for TIA,
new structure 10 be- put there. The size
is but short distance from the present
quarters OF the State Department. and
viii bee equally accessible TO. the new
home Of that department to be erected
on the square bounded by Pennsylvania
avenue, Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets
and Ohio avenue.
John Barrett director of the Bureau
OF American Republics, stated last night
that the site was an ideal one in every
way He said the commission was moved
by the consideration that the site was
To be one for noble building. and that
the purpose for which it is designed could
not be so well subseTved az a place re-
mote from other public buildings. TIT
I Barrett stated that the home of the
! bureau viii be one of the finest structures
/ i'm Washington. It viii contain not only
/ the offices of the bureau. but viii have
a large assembly room, where great ma
ti0nal and international meetings can ID,
/ held. IL viii be equipped with a large
\ library and Teading-rUom It will hav,
/ rooms for the meetings OF commissions
and private rooms Tor the diplomats ol
South and Central America IL viii be-
/ in short. Mr.. Barrett said, "Pan-Amer-
/ lean Building in every sense Of the
/ word.