The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-09-01
ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND
Bureau of American Repub-
lies to Have Unique Home.
BUILDING TO COST $1,OOO,OOO
Structure VIII Occupy Site of Van
Ness Park-Intended TO Serve ns,
Tventy-One Nations - Institution
Founded Seventeen Years Ago.

Architects and builders are taking much
interest in the proposed building to be
erected as the home of the Bureau of
American Republics. It is recognized that
the structure will be unique, not only
among the public buildings of Washing
ton, but that nothing quite like II exists
| I'm the world
/ II will serve as an international head
quarters Of twenty-one different American
nations. The nearest approach to 1t Will
be the new Temple of Peace now being
/ erected at The Hague The cost Of the
structure will be nearly Si,O0000O. Of which
Andrew Carnegie contributed S750O0o. and
the different American nations approx
mately s25o000.
| The revised drawings OF the architects
have just been approved by the Secretary
/ of State EIihu Root. chairman Of the
/ government board Of the bureau. and
/ John Barrett, the director and chief ad-
ministrative officer. after having been
originally selected from the architectural
competition in which $50 leading North
American architects entered. The win
ners were Albert Kelsey and Paul P.
Cret. associate architects. OF Philadei-
/ phia, Pa.
In Van Ness Park.
/ This imposing building VIII stand on the
/ site commonly known as Van Ncss
Park, which covers five acres facing the
/ White Lot on the east. and Potomac Park
on the south. at the corner of Seven
teenth and B streets. This site is below
the Corcoran Art Gallery. next 20 the
building of the Daughters Of the Aneri-
can Revolution. and within a short dis
lance of the Washington Monument.
! The dimensions Of the building viii be
approximately 160 by 160 feet, or % by 50
meters. The main portion VIII stand two
stories above q high studded basement.
and will be surmounted by dignifed<bal-
/ ustrades. The rear portion, in order to
/ cover the assembly hail. will rise still
/ higher.
/ II viii be constructed of steel and con-
1 crete with the effect Of a Spanish stuccO
/ finish, and with white marble steps foun-
dations, and trimmings. The roofs viii be
/ OF colored Spanish tile and the interior
exposed portions will be decorated with
! polychrome terra Gotta.
/ EsutAn I NncF1Cnn treatment,
The architecture viii suggest Latin
/ American treatment out of respect 20
the fact that twenty Of the twenty-one
/ American republics are Of Latin origin.
/ but it viii possess such characteristics as
will make it harmonic with the general
scheme for the improvement Of Wash
ington.
It's notable features OF construction.
aside from numerous well-lighted rooms
/ for the regular work and staff of the
bureau, will be typical Spanish patio.
| over % feet square in the front section.
! covered by a glass roof that can be
/ opened in summer and closed in winter.
| thus providing protection against the
weather for constantly running fountains
and growing tropical plants; large read
/ ing room. 100 by 60 feet. where can be
! seen all the South as well as North Amer
/ lean official publications, and where books
can be consulted from the Columbus Me-
mortal Library. which has the best col
/ lection in the United States of works on
! the American republics; and an assembly
! chamber, 100 by 20 feet, that, for present
purposes, may be called the Hall Of
American Ambassadors, which is spe-
cially designed for International conven-
! tons. receptions 10 distinguished foreign
ters, and for diplomatic and social events
Of kindred nature.
Division of Space.
/ Other divisions Of space will include: A
room for the governing board OF the bu-
reau. four committee rooms suited for
/ diplomatic conferences. a stack room for
/ the library that viii hold $4,000 volumes.
/ offices for the director and the secretary
Of the bureau, with their assistants. in
| cluding editors. statisticans. translators.