Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-08
Mr.. CARNEGIE GIFT
New Building for the Pan
American Bureau.
SITE ON HISTORIC, GROUND
Where the Palatial Home of the
+ Van Nesses Stood.
PURPOSE OF NEW STRUCTURE
First Visit of Southern and Central
American Delegates-Permanent
Organization Effected:
PURPOSE OF NEW STRUCTURE

erected south Of the Department of State
for the use OF the Bureau of the Amer
lean Republics Monday. He has given
$4,000 to pay for it's construction. upon
plans that have been. accepted after a
competition in which thirty or forty OF
the leading architects of the country have
been engaged. II is his contribution to
the brotherhood of American nations. in
which he has taken a deep interest ever
since he was appointed delegate from
che United States to the first interna-
tional American conference. which met
in Washington October. >. 1889.
Mr.. Carnegie IS now a member of the
Pan American committee appointed
under a resolution Of the third interna-
tional American conference held at Rio
de Janeiro in 1906 of which Elhu Root
is honorary president: William I. Buch-
anan. chairman; Andrew Carnegie. vice
chairman. and John Barrett. secretary.
This committee has been appointed to use
its influence TO secure the adoption of
the recommendation of that conference
by the United States and the other Amer
lean nations, and he has taken an earnest
and active share of the responsibility and
the work.
An. Apostle Of Peace.
ne WdS one OF tHc InOSt regular dttcnu~
ants on the sessions of the first confer
ence and his practical common sense and
business experience proved very valuable
in directing its proceedings. On one oc-
casion Mr.. Carnegie appeared as an apos-
tie OF peace. and by his gentle admoni-
tions and genial persuasons prevented
what might have been an awkward and
permanent dissensfon among the dele
gates. The discussion was very sharp
that day and some of the ablest men of
the American hemisphere were engaged
settlement of disputes between the re-
publics of America >vithout resort to
arms. and they came very near fighting
over their differences of opinion concern
ing the methods by which that remedy
should be applied.
The tension had reached its limit: the
opposing delegates had exhausted their
patience. and in a very few moments the
conference might have broken UP In vio-
lence had not Mr.. Carnegie entered the
assembly room. He inquired In whis-
per the cause of the agitation. and as
soon as he understood IT quietly arose
and made a brief speech. 1t was the
frst and one OF the few times that he en-
gagged in debate. He spoke with a smile
on his lips. and in tactful. conciliatory
way soon cleared the atmosphere and
softened the tempers of the combatants SO
completely that they were exchanging
cordial compliments a few minutes later.
Few men could have administered SO eff
fective a poultice to the passions that
were aroused that day, but Mr.. Carnegie
wax one or the most popular members of
the conference. Everybody loved him
and admired him, and he exercised a 81
lent and indirect influence that was not
equaled by any OF those who participated,
unless 1t might be Mr.. Blaine.
At the close of the conference Mr.. Car
negie gave a dinner to his colleagues at
the Arlington Hotel which has never been
surpassed. either before or since. and will
always be. remembered with admiration
and wonder by those who were fortunate
enough to. be present 1t was the first
occasion. of the kind in which q high-class
vaudeville entertainment ran parallel with
the service OF the feast. Some of the most
popular performers in the country were
brought here to entertain the guests be-
tween the courses. and although it has
been initiated many times since. 1t has
never been surpassed.
The Proposed Pan-American Home.
The same spirit that aotuated Mr.. Car
negie in conciliating the angry disputants
at the meeting of the conference. has
prompted him to make this princely gift
to the bureau Of American republics. He
will create a perpetual home and rendez-
vous for the citizens of all the American
nationstthe one place upon the hemi-
sphere in WHICH each American. OF what
ever race or condition. shall own an equal
share. 1t is to be the meeting place of
the nations forever. 1t will be the scene
of assemblies of various sorts in the fu-
ture and of gatherings of men who will
be engaged in promoting whatever causes
may serve to realize the aspirations. to
advance the welfare. to: increase the
wealth. develop the resources and expand
the commerce of America. 1t is also to
be storehouse Of information. historical.
commercial and material. to which any
person who desires knowledge concerning
any of the American republics can ap-
peal. It's roof will shelter a library that
will ultimately contain all books Of i'm
portance that have ever been or ever
may be published concerning any of the
American nations. Each of the twenty.
one governments is interested In making
collections Of literature pertaining to its
people, and 1t Is proposed that hereafter
every author and printer who shall pub
lish a book concerning American affairs
shall contribute a volume to the library.
Thus the building will become the resort
of students. economists. historians and
statesmen. as well as those who would
seek their fortunes In cornmerce. mining
or agriculture or in search Of any of the
various sources of wealth with which
nature has endowed the soil Of America.
Ground Owned by Davy Burns.
The building will be erected on historic
ground. the site of the first pretentious
mansion that was erected in the American
capital and a few yards from where stood
the humble cottage of David Burns to-
bacco planter and fisherman. who owned
a large part of the land on which the city
of WASHINGTON now stands When the
commissioners who were appointed to
purchase the plot for the National capital
approached David Burns they found him
a difficult customer to deal with. He was
a canny Scotchman. He was avaricious,
stubborn cunning. elusive and ambiguous
in his phrases. and they could do nothing
with him. Then they appealed to WASH
inRton, for whom the old fisherman had
great respect. and the father OF his
country. after much argument. finally
completed the bargain.
David Burns: always regretted he had
given in SO easily. He always harbored
a little resentment toward Washington. be-
cause he felt that out Of reverence he had
yielded to that great man too soon. and
he never concealed his thoughts or his
opinions. Meeting him one day. having
heard his lamentations. Washington re-
marked:
..Mr. Burns. if the federal city had not
been located here you would have been a
Nicer We mind Gen. Washington" was
the 4retort: AN If We hadna marrit the
widda Gusts ye'd ha' been a puir land
surveyor instead O the rich and proud
President O. the United States
David Burns died IN 1900 and left one
child, Marcia Burns. the first belle of the
National capital, then young woman OF
great beauty and many attractions. who
had been educated by her father with
nj nd haA Fr