Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1927-11-13
ACTIVITIES IN
CONSTRUCTION
BREAK RECORD
Great Number of BUSH
ness Buildings and
Numerous Homes
Build During Year

huge hotels, business structures,
residences, warehouses, depots and
other railroad facilities, cold stor-
9 plants, churches, schools. power
plants-have been erected during the
past year in the Lower Rio Grande
Valley.
At no time in the history Of
South Texas has building activity
reached the degree Of intensity at
tanned in the Valley the past year.
According TO conservative estimates
$2l,0 0 goo has been expended for
new structures, this estimate being
based upon the building permits Isl
sued In the various towns and cities
and contractors and building ma
teriai dealers reports on the build
Ing activities IN both the cities and
rural sections.
Frow Brownsville 70 Mission and
Raymondville the story of. building
progress has been the same. Every
town and city is witnessing an era
of building without parallel in the
records Of South Texas. On the
next extensions Of the Missouri Pa
cific and Southern Pacific lines new
towns have sprung up in a few
months, and many sections Of the
Valley which a year ago were a
tangle of mesquite and cactus are
today thriving commercial centers
serving large areas that are rapidly
developing.
Building Activity General
Building progress has not been
confined 70 any one section Of the
Valiey-it has been general through
out the entire area-thOugh In some
localities IL has been more marked
than in others. Every city, town and
rural community has witnessed a
growth that in many cases Is almost
phenomenal. And there has been
practically no cessation Of building
activities In the various commune
ties. Building material is coming in
to the Valley in a never ceasing
stream, and new structures are go
ing up as fast as the contractors
and builders can handle the work.
One Of the features Of the new
construction is its high quality and
stability. Practically no buildings
OF what might be termed a temper
airy nature have been erected. Build
ing for permanency has been the
rule, and the result has been strac-
lures OF exceptional high quality
and surprising beauty. Hollow tile,
brick and stGcc0 have been the
principal materials for the larger
structu&s ard also the majority Of
residences. The number Of frame
buildings has Shown a steady de-
cline, being generally confined to
small residences.
The Spanish design has become
the most generally accepted archi-
tectural style for hotels, business
houses. schools and residences
throughout the Valley. Pure Span
ish or notifications Of the design
have been employed in designing the
majority of the larger buildings,
and the old English design IS also
generally accepted as well adapted
70 the Valley climate.
Many Hotels Completed
Builders estimate that the ca
lcities OF the hotels Of the Valley
Ee been more than trcbled the
81 year by new construction. Sew
nl millions Of dollars have been
pended in the erection of adj
tional hotels, and this total will
increased by the structures now
sderway or which will soon be
ider construction.
Hotel FL Jardin at Brownsville,
,ened 20 the public last December,
the largest Of the Valley hos
Tries. with the Rees-Wil-Mond at
Arlingen ranking second. Other
rye hostelries that have been COM
sted are the Rohb Hotel at Edin-
~. the Stonewall Jackson AZ san
enito. the la Paloma at Weslaco.
se McAllen Hotel and the Moore
otel al Harrington. which has an
her unit under construction. Ad-
.tions have been erected 20 the
ission Hotel. Daman9s Hotel az
~arlingen. the Riverside at Browns
Gle. Almost a score Of smaller
hstelries have beer erected. and
e Valley is now we'll prepared 70
rovide accommodations for the
ier increasing tourist traffic.
New Towns BuiId Fast
The extension Of the Southern Pa
sfic from Falfurrias into the Lower
10 Grande Valley resulted IN many
swna springing up along the route.
"a the Missouri Pacific extensions
Millacy and Cameron county
ave also served 70 increase the
tmher Of towns in the Valley. Sew
fal ~ these towns are building
spidly. In several az the future
ties building was wei underway
sfore the railway was completed.
IA there has been n steady growth
,rourhout the intervening months.
h of the new towns are located in
ary fertile agricultural territory
hitch is now being developed. and
hich in another year ~ill provide a
rye volume Of business for the
Nv commercial centers.
The growth Of some Of the new
swrs has been not unlike that Of
me Of the boom cities OF the
Test IN the early days. with the
tception that all 81 their buildings
y permanent TownsiteS were
Atted and cleared. lots we're placed
the market and found a ready
le. The opening Of the townsites
~ followed by intense building ac-
kitv which Is still In progress in
any az the tewrs. Business hous-
residences. schools churches,
inning sheds and all other facili-
e necessary for n progressive com-
niitv took form in n few days. and
q first trains over the extensions
rre serving towns where a few
.onths previous the railroad sur
,ors had been compelled 20 clear
.efr way through the heavy brush
ickets.
New schools and Churches
N.w schools and churches have
- erected In practically all Valley
wre Tremendous progress was
Ia duirng 1924 and 1925 in sup
l~srv additional school facilities.
II SRe rapid increase in population
lnuired . continuation Of the build