Albuquerque citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1907-1909, 1908-05-11
MANY NOTABLE
MEN PARTICIPATE
New Quarters Occupies Fine Site
at Washington and Is Outcome
of United States Efforts to
Combine Interests of the,
Various Republics.

Washington. d. c.. May lin the
presence of the president of the Unit
ed States and of representatives of
every other American republic as
well as all branches of the national
government and of the state govern
ments, the corner stone of the propos
ed new home OF the International Blu
reau OF American Republics was laid
today. Addresses fitting to the occas-
ion and expressing the great benefits
to be derived from the formation of
the bureau of American republics In
many ways were made by President
Roosevelt, Secretary Root. Mr.. Nabu-
do, the Brazilian ambassador. and
Andrew Carnegie, while messages OF
congratulations and wishes for sue
cess in the work about to be UNDER
taken were read from the presidents
of nearly all of the American repub-
lies. very large audience listened
to the speeches and witnessed the lay
ing of the corner stone. The invited
guests in addition to those actively
participating in the exercises were
Vice President Fairbanks, members
of the cabinet, the diplomatic corps.
both houses of Congress, the govern
ors of the states and prominent citi-
zens of Washington and elsewhere.
NJ Music for the occasion was furnished
hy the Marine baNd, while the Adecp~
ration for the grand stands and small
er stands erected to accommodate the
guests were made up largely OF the
flags of the twenty-one American re-
publics.
Director John Barrett of the bu-
reau in a very brief talk in which he
referred to the great assistance given
by Secretary Root toward the accom-
plishment of the work and his effort
in behalf of the advance of the bu-
reau work. introduced the secretary
OF state, who is chairman of the gov
erning board of the bureau as the
presiding officer. Cardinal Gibbons
delivered the invocation. which was
followed in turn by an address by
Mr.. Root, the reading Of congratula-
tory messages from American presi-
dents and addresses by President
Roosevelt, Ambassador Nabuco and
Andrew Carnegie. Ceremonies incl
dent TO the laying Of the corner stone
closed the exercises. inscribed on
the corner stone are the following
words ssf
Building OF the American Repub-
lies. Erected through the public
spirited gift of Andrew Carnegie and
the contributions of all the Republics
upon land provided by the govern
ment of the United States. NAV II.
1908"
The imposing International building
Will stand on an attractive site COW
ering about five acres to the south of
and i'm 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. II is also
near the Washington monument The
dimensions OF the building will be
approximately 160x160 feet, its main
portion standing two stories above a
high studded basement and being in
turn surmounted by dignified ballus-
trades The rear portion in order to
cover a capacious assembly hail win
rise still higher. The general archi-
lecture will suggest Latin American
treatment out of respect to the fact
that 20 of the 21 republics are of
Latin origin, at the same time pos
sessing such monumental character
lStic as VIII make III ndfmOnlZe with
the general scheme for the improve
ment OF Washington. II will be con-
structed throughout of steel and
concrete, with the effect OF Span
ish stucco finish and with white mar
Bile steps, foundations and trimmings.
A large reading room will be a fea-
ture where can be seen all the South
as well as North American publica-
tions besides important historical
data. A beautiful assembly chamber
that, for present purposes. may be
called the Hall OF the American AM
bassadors" will provide the only room
OF its kind I'm the United States es-
pecially designed for international
receptions To distinguish
ed foreigners, and for diplomatic and
social events OF a kindred nature.
The bureau is strictly an international
and Independent organization main
tained by the joint contributions,
based on population. of the twenty
one American governments.
Nearly s1,OOO.0OO will be spent in
and fitting up the build
ing OF which Andrew Carnegie con-
tributed $75O,OOO. 1t will be UNIQUE.
not only for Washington. but in all