The Chanute times. [volume] (Chanute, Kan.) 1897-1913, 1909-04-16

Inc building Tor the Pan-Amerlcan
Bureau building is located on land
which was formerly a peninsula ex-
tending out into the Potomac river,
on which stood the historic Van Ness
mansion, built in 1917. This mansion
was the residence of Marcia Burns
Van Ness, daughter of David Burns,
who was one of the original settlers
of the territory now occupied by the
city of Washington. The adjoining
water area has been in process of fill
ing by the government for the last 20
years, so that the shore of the Poto-
mac river is now a half mile distant.
The reclaimed area has been con-
verified into beautiful public park.
One of the first problems which con-
fronted the architects in preparing
the working plans for the building
was the question of foundations. In
order to determine the character of
the subsoil at the site, pits were ex-
waited at several places, and a record
kept of the different strata encount-
cred. After a study of these data to-
gether with the estimated weight of
The superstructure, the architects con-
cluded that a structure resting on
concrete piles would possess many adj
vantages over the ordinary spread
footings, especially as here were
very heavy concentrated loads i'm
posed at certain points. 1t was found
that for a depth of eight to ten feet
below the surface the clay subsoil was
saturated with water, which would
make the excavation for the base
ment difficult and costly. In view of
the conditions, preliminary contract
was let for laying a terra-cotta drain
pipe on four sides of the site and at
distance of 25 feet from the proposed
building. The pipes were brought to-
gether in a manhole at the southeast
corner and then carried to an outlet
in the municipal sewer in Seventeenth
street.
According to the contract signed be-
tween the director of the bureau and
the contractors the building must be
completed by July l, 1909. The re-
vised plans and specifications call for
a structure whose exterior shall be
built of marble entirely, instead of
stucco, as originally intended. This
important change in the finish has
been made possible largely as a result
of the condition of the building trade.
When the contract was signed there
was comparatively little construction
going on and the contractors were so
anxious to obtain work that the fig
ures submitted and accepted were
probably 20 per cent. less than they
would have been six or eight months
previous, and this saving was applied
to the substitution of marble instead
of stucco for the outside walls.
Ground was broken at the building
site on April 10, 1908; meanwhile or
ders had been issued by the con-
tractor for the delivery of the materi.
ais of construction.
The requisite excavation having
been completed the driving of con-
crete piles was commenced at the
northeast corner Of the building on
April "a, 1908. and proceeded day and
night, in order to have the foundations
ready for the cornerstone laying,
which was to take place May IL.
1908.
BY unceasing labor on the part OF
the director of the bureau and his
staff, the contractor and his lieuten-
ants, and the different committees the
substructure for the corner stone was
built and stands were erected for the
accommodation Of 1000 persons, In
yited to witness the ceremonies at
tending the laying Of the corner stone.
On the eventful day every detail
was in readiness: a party consisting
of President Roosevelt, Secretary of
State Root. Ambassador Ntbuco. Car
dinal Gibbons. Mr.. Andrew Carnegie.
Bishop Cranston and Director John
Barrett ascended the platform sur
rounding the corner stone. and each
in turn spread the mortar on which