New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-02-25
WILL ASK WILSON
TO NAME BUILDERS
an-American Body Still
After Its 1,00l-FOOt
High Skyscraper.
HAS PICTURES OF 1T,
BUT NO SITE AS YET
Diners Say II Will Make for
Trade with South America
and Repay Big Cost.

Fifty men, some Of national pTomi-
nence in various lines, sat down in the
Blue Room Of the McAlpin az o'clock
last night to what WAS described on
the programme as "an informal dinner
of the Pan American States Associa-
ton" They adjourned at midnight.
Just before midnight, on motion Of
J. A. Coram, Of Boston, a committee
was named, among other things, TO ask
President Wilson 10 name five men
from among whom might be selected
a president and other officers OF
company 10 build and operate the tall
est building in the world a. com
mercial home for the republics OF
Latin America.
The site Of the building and its cost
were mentioned by none Of the several
speakers, though moving pictures, in
troduced by Charles r. Macauley in
brief speech, showed the exterior and
interior Of ffty-fve story structure
1901 feet high, to cost Sl7.000,0OO.
Judge Alton b. Parker, who presided
at the meeting, and who, Robert Lee
Dunn, managing director Of the Pan
American States Association, said, was
Of its counsel, declared he did not
know where it was proposed TO build.
Common report, however, has for two
or more years associated the plot be-
tween Fifty-seventh and Fifty-eighth
Streets, Broadway and Eighth Avenue
as the site. Plans for such building
as was described by last evenings
speakers have been on file in the Build
ing Department for about that length
of time.
Among those present were George
Foster Peabody, Charles Ferguson,
Richard G. Hollaman. E. P. V. Ritter,
S. Mallet-Prevost, Joseph II. Emery,
Manuel Gonzales, F. Garcia Leao, y.
Alfaro Moran, K. Bengoechea, c. r.
Macauley, Carl Laemmle, Frank +.
Smith, DR.. J. F. Crowell, P. II. Nc
Nulty, Gilbert c. Brown, Alberto de
Ibarro, W. b. Hosmer, j. A. Coram, P.
Fortoul-Hurtado, Frederick Teneh,
Francis H. Kimball, Allen Nevins, c. 4.
Greenamyer, C. X. Thomas, Albert W.
Haigh, Robert +. Bowling, Henry Biz
rell and Robert Lee Dunn.
After toasts had been drunk 20
"the President of the United States"
and TO "the Pan-American Republics"
Judge Parker expressed regret that the
United States should enjoy so small a
portion of the trade of South America
as is its lot. The building project he
described as brilliant conception"
Then, after Mr.. Macauley's moving
pictures and a few cartoons were
thrown on screen, W. B. Hosmer, of
Boston, speaking for the building com
mittee of the association, declared that
to provide for the economic develop
ment of commercial relations upon a
l III 80, k,g
n great trade building or commercial
clearing house"
Mr.. Hosmer said that though the
projected building will be the tsllest
IN the world it appears that IL may be
too small when completed, two years
hence.
"To make a success Of this build
ing" he went on, "a large portion of
it must be given over to the cultivating
of social relations and provide every
facility to assist in reciprocal business,
this to occupy twenty out of the fifty
five floors, leaving thirty-fve for rental
purposes.
"0f the remaining thirty-fve foors.'
said Mr. Hosmer, ten are TO be re-
served for permanent exhibits of the
natural products and resources OF
Latin-America, and for such mer-
chants as may require space to eX-
hibit.
"The remaining twenty-five floors
will be occupied by manufacturers IN
this country TO display their products
Manuel Gonzales, president OF the
Board Of Latin-American Consuls in
New York, spoke of the necessity or
"a clearing house in New York for
the commerce of the Americas" No
4 81 LfNs1
ing, he said, and declared such prof.
ect would proye profitable invest
ment.
George Foster Peabody, who some
OF the diners said had been urged TO
accept the presidency Of the company
which il is planned to have erect the
structure, declared that he was great
~ impressed with the practical oppor-
tunity of accomplishing great things
and profoundly impressed that IL
should be brought forward at this
time"
Charles Ferguson, commercial
agent of the Department Of Commerce,
introduced as "the personal friend OF
the President and one who enjoys his
confidence and trust" disavowed au-
thorify 70 speak for Mr.. Wilson, but
Endorsed the idea as being "along the
lines OF thought expressed by him In
mis- Mobile speech"
Mr.. Coram, who is prominent In Bos-
ton as promoter, then made the mo-
ton for the selection of committee
TO investigate the project and confer
with the President. Phanor j. Eder
seconded the motion, and. after IL had
been passed, read this list of names.
many of which are of men who are not
members Of the association. and many
others of men not present at the meet
ing: George Foster Peabody, Joseph II.
Emery, John Barrett, p. ]. Eder, Henry
White, Henry Ford, Manuel Gonzalez,
f. V. 7. Ridder, DR.. T. II. L. Gould,
Charles Ferguson, John ID. Crimmins,
Amos Pinchot. John Hays Hammond
and Robert Lee Dunn.