Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-07-01
BUILDING
TO HOUSE U.S..
DEPARTMENTS
Spanish Style Struc-
ture To Be Erected
At u. S. Terminal of
international Bridge

.. The permanent structure to
house the offices Of the VI. s. Gus
toms. immigration and public health
services at the new international
bridge will be the most co~mmodious
and beautiful on the Mexican bor-
der, according to the plans recently
completed by W. ID. Van Siclen,
Brownsville architect, and approved
BY the Gateway Bridge Co. officials.
The building will be erected east OF
the bridge approach on a site former
ly part of the Fort Brown military
reservation. 1t will be triangular in
shape TO conform TO the site. 100 feet
in length with the west end 81 feet
i'm width and the east end 25 feet.
The Spanish idea will predominate
the building, two stories, will Be
constructed Of tile and stucco, with
a red tile roof and mission gray
walls. A rallied portico, carrying out
the Spanish theme, will be erected in
front, all offices TO Be connected
with the incline approach to the
bridge.
The health department. which will
have its offices at the east end, will
occupy eight rooms. These include
in addition to the main offices, a
large waiting room. dressing. steril-
izing and inspection rooms. The i'm
migration service will occupy the
center Of the building with eight
rooms, including seven offices and a
large inspection room. The Gus
toms officials will have one large
room, p by so, at the west end w
the "A wFwMNwA 49, 49, Iii " -
the bridge office Of the Gateway
Bridge Co. All departments are
equipped with shower baths and 9TH
er modern conveniences.
Plans for the structure were drawn
In conformity with ideas Of federal
officials and the building is designed
70 facilitate the work Of the various
departments. Aliens crossing from
Mexico will be received at the pub
lie health offices, and after the usual
examinations will be passed on "a
the immigration department. The
toll office will be located al the foot
Of the bridge approach and directly
IN front Of the customs office. where
the usual examinations may be made
while the bridge toll is being paid.
10 rs understood that the offices AZ
the ferry will be maintained until
the permanent structure is complet-
ed. with officials Of the various de-
partments stationed in the temporary
structure. Efforts will be made.
bridge company officials stated. ~
complete the building in the min
imum Of time.
Each Of the departments will have
considerably more office space than
at present, and officials Of the vari-
Gus departments express the opinion
that the new structure will prove
ample to handle the business Of the
Brownsville port under all condi-
tons.
The bridge company y completing
the quarters for the Mexican customs
and immigration officials AZ the
south end Of the bridge on the west
side. This structure, which was also
designed by Mr.. Van Siclen, is of
pueblo design. containing five large
offices with shower baths and other
modern facilities. Large porticos IN
front and rear add 70 the beauty and
utility Of the structure. One OF the
features is the massive effect Oh
tanned BY the use Of pile salvared
from the falsework Of the bridge
the pile being used for portico sun.
ports and roof beams. eds project
ing from the wall to give the pueblo
effect. The structure is both -uninue
and beautiful.