East Oregonian : E.O. (Pendleton, OR) 1888-current, 1921-10-27
PAN-AMERICAN BUILDING
DEDICATED TO PEACE. TO
HOUSE ARMAMENT PARLEY


ECttCr understanding
ON the moral or sentimental side.
the chief object of the Union is to de-
velop mutual acquaintance, better un-
derstanding, lasting friendship, peace
and good will; and on the material
side, to develop the largest possible ex-
! change of commerce and trade, in
dustrial prosperity and economic pro-
gress among all the American repub-
lies
The first quarters of the Union on
PENNSYLVANIA avenue having grown
/ too small for the Columbus Memorial
Liberty and the working force of thI
/ bureau the board of governors agreed
To erect a building which with its site
should cost $125. 900. the money to he
raised by contributions of the repub-
lies on population basis. The Latin
American republics had raised their
share Of $4,000 when, in 1907, Sccro-
tary of State Root announced that An
drew Carnegie had offered to con-
tribute $4,000 for a new home for
the bureau. Soon afterward the
United States Congress appropriated
100000 for a site. Later Mr.. Carne-
sic donated aronther $tO0, 900 making
his total contribution, SS50.000
Roosevelt Lays Corner
On May II, 1903, the cornerstone
was laid by Theodore Roosevelt, Presl-
dent of the United States, in the pres
nf Ia
bcrs of the Cabinet, diplomatic corps
and the Supreme Court of the United
states.
The building has three fold pur-
pose-an office for general work,
home Of the Pan-American Union, aud
library in memory of Columbus In
addition to the practical necessities of
the building the architects faced the
problem of developing consistent
theme which should not only tell the
story of the American Union, but
also depict particular and striking
events in the history of the several
countries forming the Union.
The great marble structure Is t6O
feet square, and because of its lofty
ceilings, much higher than it's two
stories would indicate. The exterior is
typical OF the architecture of the best
Latin-Amercan type of about one
hundred years ago. The entrance por-
tico, with three portals leading to the
interior, is between two great pylons,
at the foot of each of which there is a
colossal group of statuary symbolizing
the two continents Of North and South
America.
Above each group are historical bas-
teliefs tho northern group portraying
Washington and he bids farewell to his
generals, and the southern depicting
sam Martin surrendering the primacy
of South American affairs to Bolivar.
These two events were selected by the
then Secretary Of State Root as repre-
senting two of the greatest acts of self
alinegation in history.
An air Of tropical luxuriance is
given the interior of the building by
the patio, or enclosed court, where one
NhtN'o ihiilituidltlJ uDOii pdbSlilS
through the vestibuIe.
The pavement Of tho patio, which Is
of semi-barbarous design, reproduces
well-known archaeological fragments OF
the ancient Mayan, Aztec and Zapote-
can periods, In the center is foun-
tain. At night the fountain becomes a
dazzling electrical display, the nation
al colors of the different countries be-
ing shown on the boiling spring sur
rounding the base.
Ascending the broad marble stair
ways one enters the vaulted Hall of
Heroes, where stand marble busts of
tho great leaders of the early days of
the Southern republics Above them
are the flags Of the respective nations.
The hall itself is an approach to the
Hall Of the Americas, whore the con
ference on the limitation of arms ia
to sit.