The Washington times., 1908-10-11
International Bureau May
Occupy Building Early
Next Year.
HISTORY OF HOUSE
FORMERLY ON SITE
Old Van Ness Mansion, One of the
Landmarks of Washington,
Long Thought Haunted.

Great marble blocks are now being
laid. one upon The other. IN The work
Of erecting the great building which
10 to be the home OF the International
Bureau Of Republics. For the first time
there can be seen the actual outlines Of
part Of the building Itself From now
on the great task will be steadily worked
upon, and probably tho walls Will be
ready for the roof by January ].
The accompanying photograph was
taken from the northeast corner OF the
Van Ness site, looking towlrd Potomac
Park. The site is bounded Dy Seven
teenth and Eighteenth streets. and B
and c streets northwest.
Proceeding Rapidly.
Construction IS proceeding rapidly
and satisfactorily on the new building
of the International Bureau of Ameri-
can Republics" said John Barrett, d.
rector of the bureau yesterday. 1T has
now advanced 10 a stage where courses
OF marble are being laid above the base
ment, and the steel upriguts AMI cross
pieces are being placed in position. The
structure is far enough advanced TO give
an excellent idea Of its handsome pro-
portions. cOmmOdious arrangements,
and solid construction.
The contractors hope 10 have the
roof on early IN January Of next year.
before there IS much snow. The date
of completion, according 10 the contract,
is July 1. 1853"
The new building will be to the south
Of and in close proximity TO the White
House. the War and Navy Department,
the CorcOran Gallery OF Art and the
home Of the Daughters Of the American
Revolution. Nearly $L0OO.50O will be
spent in the construction and fitting UP
Of the building.
The edlfce. wlIch will be one Of the
EandsOmest in Washington. was made
possible by a gift OF 500 900 from An
drew Carnegie toward its cost.
Full descriptions Of the building were
published last May. when President
Roosevelt laid the cornerstone. The
history OF the site. however. is not so
well known.
History of House.
In 1900. John Van Ness, of an aristo-
cratic Knickerbocker family. and rep
resentative in Congress. married beau
tiful Marcia Burns. only child Of e
planter who became suddenly wealthy
by the transfer OF his land TO the Cow
eminent. Van Ness engaged the archi-
tect LatrObe to build, near the Burns
cottage which stood until a few years
ago, the finest house in America" at
a cost of $4,000 It was the first resi-
denCe IN this country to have hot and
cold water carried TO its upper stories,
and in other respects was greatly in ad-
vance Of the highest standard Of colon
ial comfort and convenience.
FOTty-hve years later. after Van Ness
died without heirs, the place fell into
the hands Of strangers and was ne
elected. For half a century more It
stood desOIate and uninhabited. At one
time it was the resort Of a desperate
band Of negro criminals. Its dungeon
like cellars had been selected by the
conspiratOrs as the place in which to
conhne President Lincoln
Ghosts, so it was said. walked the
weed-covered grounds in knee brooches
and cooked hats, or rode about on head
less horses Finally. the mansion,
crumbling and dismantIed, was destroy
ed 10 supply part Of the site for the
new building Of the Bureau Of American
Republics.