The morning times., 1895-07-30
Patsy Hann's Rendering Place
Just Below the City.
MANY COMPLAINTS MADE
Pleasure Seekers Have to Run the
Odor Blockade TO Reach the Hayens
of Rest on the Potomac-Horrible
Sights and Smells at the Works.
Opinion of the District Officials.

The establishment operated by Patsy"
Mann, located about one-half mile below
Buena Vista, on the banks of the Potomac,
has become so rank in the nostTils of those
who come within its poisoned atmosphere
that vigorous complaints have been made,
and earnest appeals come TO The Times
for relief.
The character of the establishment is well
known. Mr.. Mann has had for number of
years the privilege of manufacturing the
carcases of dead animals found within the
elty limits into bone dust, oils, and other
commodities, for which he finds market
and from which he derives, doubtless,
reasonably good profit. He has no opposi-
ton, his being the only place within reach
where the dead animals can be disposed Of
ALL SORTS f DISCOVERIES.
1t is not alone the horses, dogs, cattle, and
sheep that are suddenly deprived of life
that find their way to this depository. Car
casses that are infected with all sorts OF
disorders go with the clean into the COM
mon pot, their bones TO the same yard; and
the atmosphere roundabout receives the
horrible gases and becomes charged with
a stencil that is overpowe and that must
in the very nature of things, be fruitful OF
disease and death.
No attemptis made to confine these noX-
ious odors, nor is there any way devised
to minimize the nuisance This poisoned
breath of Maun's furnace, emitted III
gusts offierceSt volume, fmpregnates the air
and is carried upon the winds OF heaven over
miles of area in all directions 1t comes
uponthe southern breeze TO the very Capitol,
and floods the municipal building as a nau-
sea-producer
EVIDENCES OF DECAY
The reducing pot and other requisites to
the business are located in a building that
gives to the observer a great deal of eyi-
dence Of outward decay. He who ventures
near enough to inspect will lind a furnace
room where the boilers are located On
either side OF the entrance is a drying
ROOM for the bones which are obtained
from the process. Doors are wide open, but
even if closed the sickerfng draughts may
easily escape through the wide crevices
left TO facilitate the drying process.
Back OF the south end of the building
is where the carving is done. Here is an
open court, but partly under roof. and
near by hoof yard, neither with modern
appliances for reducing or continuing the
gases. The cooking room, with It's steaIning
flesh and hot breath, is not far away,
and the whole forms resistless power for
contamina tion.
AAlt ktig kDll ettilih ~ Dt
with the corruption that stalks abroad,
and occasionally a festerit-s piece OF Of
fal rs found about the premises. The
whitewash brush has not been utilized,
/ the grounds seem to be oYerrun with
damp weeds, and there bas been evidently
no attempt made this year, whatever may
/ have happened in previous years, TO try
/ the efficacy OF lime as purifier. The
carrion birds lazily flap their wings above
/ and around the place when not upon the
! ground in search of prey.
DISGUSTS PLEASURE SEEKERS.
Pleasure seekers who pass this place 60
ing 10 and returning from the down-river
resorts, and those who are called by busi
ness 10 take a river trip are daily treated
10 a touch of the poisonous exhalations
when within range OF the breeze that blows
from that quarter.
AS a sample OF the complaints that have
been filed. quotation is here made from a
! letter addressed 10 The Times:
.Wlll You be good enough to tell The
people why that intoleTable nuisance is
allowed to exist upon the river bank Just
! below this city, Is there no law that can
1 be brought 10 bear upon the vile spot?
Where is the health officer? Did he ever
! take a pleasure sail down the river? Did
! he have any pleasure? Where's the Board
! of Trade, SO active in SuppTessiDg vice in
Virginia? Here's field for them 10 oper-
ate in in their own territory"
Mr.. John Hockemeyer, proprietor CT the
Buena Vista Clubhouse, says that on Occa-
sions when pleasure was sought for a DAY
at Buena Vista the odors from the Mann
! cookery were often serious interruption
to the enjoyment, "and when the wind
blows strong from the SOUTH" he said,
"the stencil is horrible" SO say others
at Buena Vista.
OPINION OF OFFICIALS.
Commissioner Ross was asked yesterday
what Mr.. Mann's authority was for a
continuance OF the nuisance in the face
of so many complaints. he said the
health officer could give all the desired
! Information. Mann, he said, had been
running the establishment for years. 1t
is located on his own ground, and not near
/ to any dwelling that he knew of. The Com
missioner said there had been complaints
made about il, and he knew 1t was called
/ great nuisance.
Dr w. c. Woodward, health officer,
when approached upon the subject said
] that the health ordinances do not, in his
! judgment, prohibit the maintenance OF the
establishment. and he thought the only
way to reach jt would be by an Indictment
uuderthc common law. DR.. Woodward said
there had never been complaint filed with
/ him about the matter, but ii would not need
q complaint il the institution came within
the ordinances, and his present Judgment
+ is that it does not. He cited section 81
OF the ordinances that would give authority
/ TO abate a specified nuisance, but the
/ provision is that an establishment like
1 Mann's may not be located within the city
limits nor in any densely populated portion
! OF the District.
DIT. Woodward's opinion is that the
nuisance might be largely, If not alto
! gether abated by the introduction of
modern appliances.
The effect OF this odoriferous plague spot
! upon the public health, it is suggested,
should he discussed by the medical societies
along with the public wells and the sewerage
] imperfeCtioDs.
Fire in Grocery Store.
Engine No. responded to afire, at 1908