Imperial Valley press., 1908-04-25
BUSY AS BEES
 IN IMPERIAL COUNTY SEAT
Numerous Brick and Cement Block Structures Going Up in Business District of Fl CentrO. Fine Depot Buildings and Many Substantial Residences Show Steady Growth of City.

With the completion of the block of brick stores on Main street between Fifth and Sixth streets, it was sup posed that the construction of busi- ness buildings in El Centro would halt for the season. but the demand for quarters for business uses keeps Fshead of the builders, and instead of suspension there is a marked in- crease of activity in building opera tions. The count of structures made three weeks ago by The Press is all ready a back-number census.
 New Hotel Block.
 Fine progress is being made on the three-story brick hotel block for Helm & Pellett, at the southeast corner of Fifth street and Broadway. The first story walls are now laid; the heavy iron columns are in place, and the steel girders and heavy timbers for the support of the second floor have been put into position the past few days, so that the second story walls will arise during the ensuing week.
 The building, which is being con- structed by J. l.. Travers, is the most substantial structure in the entire I'm perial Valley. It rests on a heavy concrete foundation, has seventeen inch walls for the first floor and twelve inch walls for the second and third floor walls. Massive iron columns sup port the floors.
 On the first floor there are to be four commodious store rooms, fronting on Fifth street; the hotel corridor and lobby will occupy the northwest cor ner, and the large dining room will occupy the first floor north frontage just opposite Hotel Franklin. On the second and third floors there will be ! 100 guests rooms; and there are to be thirty baths, with all modern fixtures. The general interior finish will be in mission style, and there will be 125
 
 Fifth street and Broadway frontages. The ceilings in this building will be of pressed steel. A three-story porch will be constructed at the rear, or east end, of the building, and extend ing the full width of the structure.
 It is expected this block will be ready for occupancy early in the fall.
 Prominent Corners.
 The intersection of Fifth street and Broadway gives promise of becoming an important business center. The Franklin hotel occupies the northeast | corner, while on the southeast corner the three-stOry brick block for hotel and stores is being erected for Helm & Pellett. On the southwest corner of Fifth and Broadway there is to arise during the summer and fall a three-story block of cement construc- tion. It will be erected by a Colo rado capitalist, and will have fifty foot frontage on Broadway and a frontage of 40 feet on Fifth street. There will be a half-basement story with a depth of three and half or four feet below the street surface, which will be fitted up for business rooms.
 This is an innovation in Imperial Valley architecture, but promoters of the enterprise believe the basement rooms will prove desirable because of their coolness during the summer season. The main floor will be di- vided into store rooms, and the second floor will contain office rooms and suites of apartments. The approxi. mate cost of this block is $40OOO. Opposite this, the northwest corner of Fifth and Broadway Is owned by the Aten Land Company, and plans are being worked out for the erection ! of substantial brick block on the