Evening star., 1948-02-09
Two Decades of Confusion
Long Controversy Over Pan American Union Annex Site
Renewed After Work Has Been Started
James Waldo Fawcen
By James Waldo Fa,cceft

and Constitution Avenue.
Secretary Krug may not be able to stop the
construction of the Pan American Union annex
in the triangle bounded by Constitution avenue,
Virginia avenue Eighteenth and Nineteenth
streets, but his belated protest serves at least
one useful purpose-namely, that Of calling
attention to the confusion which has charac-
terized utilization Of the indicated site for ap-
proximately 20 years.
The proposed annex originally was intended
to be built within the existing grounds OF the
Pan American Union. Then the late Dr. Leo
S. Rowe, director general, realized that such an
edifice would disturb the landscaping OF the
environs of the main building, facing Seven
teenth street. and the supplementary building,
facing Eighteenth street. with sunken gar
den between The Government had given the
original block-once occupied by the residence
of John p Van Ness, Representative in Con-
gress and subsequently Mayor of Washington
and Andrew Carnegie had contributed the
money for its architectural development. DR..
Rowe applied to the same benefactors for more
land and more money.
AS result, the Carnegie Corporation prom
ised first 100000, then 100000; and Secretary
of State Frank B. Kellogg and Assistant Sec
retary Wilbur J. Carr appeared before the
House Committee on Public Buildings and
Grounds to ask ALLEGATION to the Pan American
Union of "the parcel Of Government land
lying between Eighteenth street, G street and
Virginia avenue" The House committee, under
the leadership Of Chairman Richard N. Ell
lott of Indiana, agreed on April 10, 1928.
But the Fine Arts Commission was not sat-
isf1ed.S With an eye to the furtherance OF a
scheme to make B street, renamed Constitu-
ton avenue, "the great mopumental and cere-
rnonal avenue in the Capital" it suggested
instead the site which now, in 1948 finally is
being excavated. Meanwhile, Paul P. Cret,
who had been one of the architects OF the
original Pan American Union Building, was en-
gagged to design the second of Its annexes. 1t Is
not quite clear that he knew definitely where
the structure was to be erected. In any case, ne
turned out beautiful composition, worthy OF
his own outstanding genius and OF any suitable
location in Washington.
While Mr.. Cret labored In his studio IN
Philadelphia, The Star reported that LIT. Col.
u. S. Grant, Sd, director OF the once OF
Public Buildings and Public Parks, now has
under consideration the cost OF moving the
central heating plant for the group OF build
ings bounded by Eighteenth, Nineteenth and
B streets and Virginia avenue, on which 1t is
proposed to erect the $1,000y000 Pan American
Union office building. This plant will have to
be relocated if Congress gives that area to the
Pan American Union"
Location Authorized by Legislation.
And Congress did "go along" with the Fine
Arts Commission. The Elliott committee,
Welding to Charles Moore, chairman OF the
commission, ordered favorable report on the
resolution changing the site on which the Pan
American Union Is authorized to build an
auxiliary structure from Eighteenth and Q
streets to the other corner"-Eighteenth and B.
When the Senate had concurred, the signature
of President Hoover was obtained ana Col.
Grant was instructed to proceed with the clear
ing of the lot of the heating plant ana other
Temporary" buildings left over from World
War l. The site was put in order early IN
1880, and the Pan American Union soon there
after "staked out"' its claim on the location
by digging tunnel 436 feet long between the
basement of It's original building and the pro-
jected annex It Is understood that this tube"
cost $50 900.
Coincidentally, however the new home OF
the Department Of the Interior was con-
structed between G and streets, Eghteentn
and Nineteenth streets Before 1t was finished,
The Star printed on January l, 1885, report
that Secretary Ickes was represented
as opposing construction of the Pan American
Union annex because it would interfere
with the view of his new $10,000,0OO oullo-
ing from Constitution avenue" formerly
street His primary objection was unanimous
lv rejected by the Fine Arts Commission ana
the National Capital Park and Planning Com
mission, meeting jointly on January 3D. 1886.
But Mr. Ickes already had enlisted the help
of President Roosevelt in his fight, and on
February 16, 1886, the President gave The Star
his own personal solution OF the proolem-a
pencil drawing showing rearraneement OF
the area between street and Constltutloh
avenue Eighteenth and Nineteenth streets as
a park This substitute proposlt1on, IL was
explained, would have reallocated ElgnteehCil
street so that the Pan American Union couio
have built its new annex in It's own GROUNDS
those grounds being supplemented by tri-
angular space created by such reallocatlon.
Frederic A. Delano, chairman of the National
park and Planning Commission likewise sub
mitted o tentative compromise" plan which
had the advantage of meeting the objection
that. in line with the Presidents proposal. Vir-
pinia avenue necessarily would be closed-a
procedure to which the District Commission
ers. citizens associations and other ,organiza-
tions were hostile.
Out of the discussion thus promoted came
bill, introduced in the House in January, 1885,
calling for the elimination Of Eighteenth street
but preserving Virginia avenue, widened eight
feet in 1885, as an artery of vehicular traftc.
The debate continued during 1888 and 1889,
President Roosevelt standing pat in agree
ment with Mr.. Ickes that "one important build
ing should not be impinged upon another ar
bitrarily," and Mr.. Moore insisting: I'VE regret
that Mr. Ickes did not build farther north, but
now that he has invaded the Constitution ave-
nue. region we do not feel that the intrusion
should be permitted to affect the Pan Arneri-
can Union plan. All the Union proposes to DO
is what Congress authorized"
Delano Compromise Proves Futile.
The possibility of an amicable settlement OF
the controversy was held out by Mr.. Delano