The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1908-03-27
ny FREDErtIC j. uAsISIN.


To-day In Washington bids on the
now home OF the international Bureau
of the American Republics Will be open
ceptale, work VIII begin at once. and
in the imposing. mass OF stone which
Will house the bureau next season,
most interesting chapter In interna-
'tional history VIII ina permanent me-
mortal. and the spirit of good fellow
snip between the reading american re-
publlcs be f!ttlngly crystallized. This
ediilce VIII be one OF the most unusual
and interesting in the history Of all
the world, the one nearest ike 1t in
object being the Temple OF Peace, now
under construction ut The Hague.
The building, when completed ready
Tor occupany. Will have cost $I0OO,00O.
or this S75O.000 was given by Mr.. Car
ncBie and $26O,UUU by the different
american countries represented in the
bureau. 1t Will be situated on the
famous Van Ness tract Of land on the
corner OF Seventeenth and Il Streets,
Washington, facing the White House
on the east and Potomac Park on the
south. one hundred and thirty OF the
leading architects OF North America
entered designs in the contest. and the
Gret. associate architects Of Phlladel-
phia. Since twenty of the twenty-one
American republics are OF Latin origin.
the general style Will suggest Latin
lIedlIleHt, ana at the same
time 1t will harmonize with the gem
cral tone of architecture that Is SYM
bolical of the newer Washington, and
has found Its latest verihcation in the
Corcoran Art Gallery, the municipal
buildings and the Union Station.
Latin American Influence in the arch
itecturc finds its most typical express
sion in the patio. over fifty feet square,
front. section. This will be rooted over
In winter with glass. but in summer
Will be. open. while all the year round
the splashing OF fountains and the
breath of tropical flowers will suggest
the Alhambra of long ago and remote
Moorish influences in Spain. Spanish
stucco finish and Spanish tiled roof
VIII complete the Latin american eff
feet. while the woodwork for the in
istic or the various republics.
Well-lghted offices for the director
Of the bureau and his staff will open
of the patio. and at one end Will be
tho great assembly chamber which is
dignihcd by the name of Tho Hall of
the American Ambassadors" the only
room of It's kind ever built especially
for. International conventions and So
cial events. Committee rooms will be
set aside for important conferences,
and the Columbus Memorial Library
VIII be installed In stack rooms accom-
nodating 100000 volumes. while
reading room. where Will be found the
publications from every one of the
American republics. Will occupy con.
siderable space and be held open as
special comforter to homesick guests
from the far South or for reference for
the public in general.
The International Bureau of the
American Republics. sometimes called
the Pan,American Bureau. is an insti-
tuition that is seventeen and half
years old 1t was organized in an
swer to the wish that American repub-
lies become better acquainted with
each other. Tho first great object of
the bureau is to develop commerce and
trade between the United states and
the Latin American countries. while of
hardly less Importance Is the deter
mination to promote closer relations
along intellectual. educational and so
cial lines. A great internationai clear
1ng-house on questions of trade and
commerce. scientific research and trav-
el, the bureau in its work practically
promotes the Industries OF 11.S3I,eS4
the commercial and educational inter
ests of l49.02T039 American people.
staff OF clerks, stenogra piers and
translators Is kept busy in the present
quarters of the bureau. They answer
thousand and one queries that each
mail brings, and get out 10000 bulle-
tins each month containing statistical
Information IN regard to the trade,
of the twenty-one American republics
They compile handbooks on each coun-
try. publish pamphlets and circulars
relative to tariff. mining, immigra ton
and land laws, and keep manufactur-
ers posted in regard to the possibilities
Tor their wares in various fields. In
the year 1905 the bureau received 1000
letters of inquiry: in 1907 it received
$1,000. comparison that shows adj
mirably the growth of the work. Ten
years ago the trade of the United
States. with It's American neighbors
amounted To only a third OF billion
dollars Compare this with last years
trade of billion dollars and allow
the Bureau of the American Republics
goodly share of credit for the phe-
nomenal increase.
Tourists or business men going to
any of the republics In Central or
South America appeal to the bureau
for the best routes of travel. for one