FINAL ACT OF SECOND PAN AMERICAN SCIENTIFIC CONGRESS. 87 



ARTICLE 20. The Second Pan American Scientific Congress suggests that 

 The presidents of the leading architectural societies of this hemi- 

 sphere shall be requested to communicate with one another 

 for the purpose of forming a Pan American federation of archi- 

 tectural societies. 



Such federation should hold conferences in different countries at 

 stated periods. 



The present article is a recognition, as applied to architects, of the 

 truism that in union there is strength, and that in order that there may 

 grow up in the Americas the traditions and canons of the art worthy of 

 the American Republics, the Section of Engineering drafted this article, 

 believing it to be of vast educational and professional import. It is of 

 course not to be understood that in advocating a federation of archi- 

 tectural societies it would be possible, by the exchange of views of the 

 accredited representatives of the different countries in the conferences 

 to be held in accordance with the article, to introduce uniformity in 

 architectural design and structure. Without attempting in any way to 

 discuss the conditions of architecture or to lay down its canons, it must 

 be evident, even to the casual reader, that architecture is largely condi- 

 tioned by environment. A style of architecture eminently appropriate 

 for those portions of America where the winters are severe and much of 

 the ground covered by snow would be equally inappropriate for the 

 more tropical regions of the continent. By the personal intercourse of 

 architects and by the resultant exchange of views the Congress believed 

 that the standard of architecture as an art would be raised, and ventured 

 the hope, without, however, daring to voice it, that in the course of 

 time the graceful and substantial structures of the New World may 

 stand upon a plane of equality with those of the Old, and mayhap of the 

 ancient world. 



ARTICLE .2 1 . The Second Pan American Scientific Congress recommends 



that 



There be published a series of volumes entitled the " Pan American 

 Library," with the object of popularizing, in the several lan- 

 guages spoken on the continent, the best scientific, literary, 

 and artistic works of American authors. 



It is a trite remark that community of spirit is one of the strongest ties 

 which can exist among men and peoples, and the sentiment of union 

 which already exists in the whole American Continent can be, it is 

 believed, greatly augmented and solidified by the establishment of a Pan 



