Arizona republican., 1907-09-01

the Van Ness Trach. which covers five acres. or about two hectares, facing the presidential grounds, or White Lot. on the east. and Potomac Park on the south. at the corner Of 17th and B streets. This site is only two blocks below the Corcoran Art Gallery, next to the new building of the Daughters of the American Revolution, and with in a short distance of the Washington monument.
 The dimensions of the building will be approximately 160 by 160 feet, or 52 by 52 meters. The main portion will stand two stories above a high studded basement. and will, in turn. be sur mounted by dignified ballustrades- The rear portion in order to cover the ca pacious Assembly Hall, will rise still higher. It will be constructed through out Of steel and concrete with the efI feet of a Spanish stucco finish and with white marble steps. foundations. and trimmings. The roofs will be of colored Spanish tile and the interior exposed portions will be decorated with polychrome terra cotta.
 The general architecture will suggest
 
 spect to the fact that twenty of the twenty-one American republics are Of Latin origin, but it will possess such monumental characteristics as will make it harmonize with the general scheme for the, improvement of Wash ington. Its most notable features of construction, aside from numerous well-lighted rooms for the regular work and staff of the bureau will be a capacious. typical. Spanish patio. over 90 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 growing tropi cal plants; a large reading room. 1eO | by 160 feet. where can be seen all the south as well as North American pub lications. and where books can be con suited from the Columbus Memorial library, which has the best collection in the United States of works on the American Republics: and Q beautiful. dignified. assembly chamber 100 by 70 feet. that, for present purposes. may be caled the Hall of American Ambassa- dors." which will provide the only room of its kind in the United States spe- | cially designed for international con ventions.> receptions to distinguished foreigners. and for diplomatic and so- cial events of kindred nature.
 Other important divisions of space will include: a handsome room for the governing board of the bureau: four committee rooms suited for diplomatic conferences; a stack room for the li- brary thae will hold 250.0O0 volumes; large offices for the director and the secretary of the bureau. with their as- Lsistants. including editors. statisticians, ! translators. librarians. accountants clerks. and stenographers. Much of the | decorative finishings of the interior will be in rare woods from the South American forests, contributed by the different countries that support the bureau. while the walls of the Hall of American Ambassadors and other principal rooms will be decorated with ! mural paintings. pictures. statuary. etc. suggestive of Pan-American his l tory. development. and progress. At the main entrance of the structure will be two heroic marble figures symbol izing, respectively, North and South America.
 The institution which will occupy this building was founded seventeen years ago at the first Pan-American conference held in Washington in the winter of 1SS9-1S90. and presided over by James c. Blaine. The original ob- ject, as announced. was that of making the American republics better ac- quainted with each other and of ex- changing information about their re- | spective resources and trade. It never however. had the complete support and interest of the United States. or of her sister nations. until Hon. Elihu Root ! secretary of state of the United States. made his memorable visit in 1906 to South America. The third Pan-Amer- | ican conference, assembled at Rio Janeiro, Brazil. in 1906. which he att tended, passed strong resolutions in