El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-04-30
TRANSFORMER
BUILDING ON
DISPLAY
Mills's Skyscraper to Be the
Largest Reinforced Con-
crete Building in Country.
WILL HAVE MANY
GRACEFUL CURVES

Twelve stories high with 2S5 offices;
eight store rooms: a marble lobby with
a battery Of three electric elevators
pouring their load of human freight
into il, and with a restaurant and
rathskeller in the basement. the new
Arson Mills building which is TO have
the place of honor on the twin plazas
viii be the largest and most complete
office building in the United States
constructed entirely OF reinforced con-
crete.
The plans. specifications and eleva-
zion in water cOlors of the new build
ing have been completed by frost &
frost. the achifects, who have the
planning of the big building in charge
and the contractors are now figuring on
the specificatio The contract for the
skyscraper will be let during the first
week OF May and Gen. Arson Mills, the
grand old man of early Ell Paso, will
be present TO personally inspect the
bids for the building which is to bear
his distinguished name
Fronting on two plaZas, two of the
leading business streets, one of which
was named in honor of Cen Mills, the
new Arson Mills building will be admir-
ably located for the proper display of
the fine architectural lines which will
make it one Of the most beautiful as
well as the largest concrete office build
ing in the country Having an easy
curve instead of a sharp corner at the
intersection of Mills and Oregon street,
the entire building viii represent grace
full sweeping lines. Extending over
the two main entrances on Mills and Ore
gon street, will be two porticos with
concrete columns supporting massive
cornices and roofs On the fronts OF
these porticos will appear the name
Mills while on the curve of the
building al the fourth sIoor, will be the
name OF the structure "Anson Mills"
Stationary awnings will shade the store
fronts on both streets and these fronts
will be Of heavy copper, plate and prism
glass with oak, used exclusively IN the
woodwork trimmings.
The lobby will be OF Italian Pavanaz-
20 marble 20 the ceiling. The elevator
fronts will be Of bronze and will open
fnto the lobby. Two marble stairways
viii lead from the lobby to the base
ment and one to the second floor From
the second to the 18th floors the stair
way will be of concrete with marble
treads and raisers. The store fronts
of the building on both streets will also
be covered with marble. There viii be
eight Of these storerooms, six on Ore
gon street and two on Mills street all
Facing the two plazas.
NOn the third floor of the building
there will be French windows opening
onto the top Of the porticos and on the
fifth floor there will be a balcony sup
ported by two ornamental brackets. On
the 18th floor there will be a balcony
extending around the two street fronts.
This will also be supported by orna-
mental brackets, and the cornice will
be heavily ornamental TO be in keeping
with the general character Of the build
ing
An arched entrance at the north and
west ends of the building viii open in
10 private alleys through which access
TO the rear Of the building ill be OBJ
tanned. These alleys will extend only
as high as the first floor and will be
a part of the building proper.
The finish throughout the building
viii be mahogany with maple floors
fn the off storerooms and concrete
floors on all of the Offices The win
dows on the east and south will of
plate glass while those on the north
and west will be of wire glass set in
metal frames
The basement will extend under the
sidewalk on both of the streets and also
qnder the alley in the rear.