Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1908-05-12

| doubt NOT that this work will be
powerful and officacious aid in effect
Ing the fraternal coming together of all
the nations on the continent"
From President Pardo Of Peru:
ION the occasion of the ceremonies
to be held on the 18th inst. l desire to
express the best wishes of the Peru
Wan nation that the great building to
be erected may always commemorate
peace, union and fraternal friendship
among the republics of America"
| From President Amador Guerrero OF
PaLama:
| ION the occasion OF the laying of the
cornerstone of the building which will
represent in Washington the union of
American republics 1 am happy to send
| to your excellei-cy most sincere con-
| CALCULATIONS"
| From President whitman or Uru-
| quay:
ION the occasion of the laying of the
cornerstone of the building of the
American republics please convey to the
government of the great republic of
America my congratulations for the
| naturalization of new act which
means the establishment of a new
| pledge of the moral solidarity of ma
tions of America"
From President Alfaro N Ecuador:
1.-THE president sends greeting on this
solemn occasion to all the republics OF
| America, and more especially to the
| United States, on whose soil the build
| ing of the international bureau Is to be
erected az permanent center of union
and fraternity among the countries Of
| the new world"
From President Fernando Figueroa
of Salvador:
II sincerely trust that the building
| of which the cornerstone is laid today
| will further develop the Pan-American
fraternal sentiments existing among
the sons of the continent. In harmony
with the philanthropic generosity of
| Mr.. Carnegie"
Following the speechmaking and the
reading of the congratulatory cable
| grams, the president land the others
who had participated marched to the
/ center of the court, where the corner
| stone was ready to be placed in posi-
ton. After greeting the head mason
| with cordial grasp of the hand Presi-
| dent Roosevelt was given a trowel
| decorated with the American republics
| colors. Taking several trowelfuls of
mortar he placed it on the stone on
which the cornerstone is to rest and
| smoothed 1t out, the latter act being
| in turn followed by the remaiDsng
members of the party. They then re-
turned to the grand stand, where the
benediction was pronounced.
| Inc invited guests, III duultlOu 10
| those actively participating in the eX-
ercises, were Vice President Fairbanks,
members of the cabinet the diplomatic
| corps, both houses of congress, the
| governors of the states and prominent
citizens of Washington and elsewhere.
| Music for the occasion was furnished
by the marine band, while the decora-
ton for the grand stands and smaller
stands erected to accommodate the
l 70
| flags of the twenty-one American re-
publics.
Director Speaks
Director John Barrett of the bureau
in very brief talk, in which he re-
| ferred to the great assistance given
| by Secretary Root toward the accom-
| plishment of the work and his efforts
In behalf of the advance of the bureau
| work, introduced the secretary of state,
who is chairman of the governing board
of the bureau as the presiding officer.
Cardinal Gibbons delivered the invo-
| cation, which was followed in turH
| by an address by Mr.. Root, the reading
of congratulatory messages from
American presidents and addresses by
Presiden Roosevelt, Ambassador Ma
buco and Andrew Carnegie. Ceremo-
MES incident to the laying of the COR
ner stone closed the exercises. In
| scribed on the corner stone are the
| following words:
Building of the American republics.
Erected through the public spirited
gift of Andrew Carnegie and the con-
tributions of all the republics upon
land provided by the government of
the United States. May IL, 1905"
The imposing international building
will stand on an attractive site cover
ing about five acres to the south of
and in close proximity to the White
House. the state, war and navy de-
partment building, the Corcoran art
gallery and that of the Daughters of
the American Revolution. 1t is also
near the Washington monument. The
dimensions of the building will be APP
proximately 160x160 feet it's main
portion standing two stories above a
high studded basement and being in
turn surmounted by dignitied balus-
trades.
Assembly Hall Capacious
The rear portion in order to cover
a capacious assembly hall will rise
still higher. The general architecture
will suggest Latin American treat
ment, out of respect to the fact that
twenty of the twenty one republics are
of Latin origin, at the same time pos
sesSing such monumental character
istics as will make it harmonic with
the general scheme for the improve
menu of washington. 1t VIII be con-
structed throughout of steel and con-
crete, with the effect of a Spanish
stucco finish and with white marble
steps, foundations and trimmings. A
large reading room will be a feature
where can be seen all the South as
we'll as North American publications,
besides important historical data.
A beautiful assembly chamber that
for present purposes may be called
the hall of the American ambassadors
will provide the only room of its kind
in the United States especially de-
signed for international conventions,
receptions to distinguished foreigners
and for diplomatic and social events of
kindred nature. The bureau is
strictly an international and indepen-
dent organization maintained by the
joint contributions, based on popula-
ton, of the twenty-one American gov
ernments.
Nearly 100000 will be spent in
construction and fitting up the build
ing of which Andrew Carnegie con-
tributed $750,000. 1t will be unique,
NOT only for Washington, but in all
the world. serving as an international
headquarters or offices in one national
capital of twenty lone American ma
tons, the nearest approach to IT being
the new Temple of Peace, now being
erected at The Hague.
President Speaks
In part President Roosevelt said:
This is memorable occasion for all
the peoples of the western hemisphere.
The building, the cornerstone of which