Evening star., 1927-03-08
Stinkpot or Boulevard.

Choose between a stinkpot or the
most beautiful boulevard in the world
that will bring hundreds of thousands
Of tourists annually on pilgrimages
through that section of historic Vir-
ginia which is richer in landmarks Of
the foundation days of the Republic
than any similar area. This was. in
effect. what Charles Moore, chairman
Of the Commission of. Fine Arts, told
a mass meeting last night of residents
Of Arlington County. in discussing the
proposed location of slaughterhouse
on Columbia pike. just short dis
tance from the Highway Bridge.
The people of Arlington County are
now on trial before the people of the
United States, said Mr.. Moore. Con-
gress contemplates the construction
Of a. memorial boulevard to Mount
Vernon, as an outstanding feature OF
the bicentennial of Washington's birth,
from the city that Washington found
ed and for which he planned so pro-
phetically. This boulevard has been in
mind for twoscore years and is now
on the eve of materializing. But Con-
gress will not build such a boulevard
past slaughterhouses.
This contention of Mr.. Moore, than
whom no man living has done more
aItruistic work for the Identification
Of the Nations. Capital and its en-
vironment, and than whom no man
living is better authority on the pub
lie and private life of George Wash
ington and his neighbors in that his
toric stretch of 1.-The Old Dominion"
is supported by the National Capital
Park and Planning Commission, the
Virginia Park and Planning Commits
sion, business and civic organizations
In the Capital and in neighboring Vir-
ginia and by the chairmen of both
House and Senate District committees
In Congress.
The utilization of permit to operate
the proposed slaughterhouse which
seems to have been hastily slipped by
the Board of Supervisors of Arlington
County by a questionable shortcut
method, without the people having had
an opportunity to protect their abut-
ting property and community rights
in a public hearing. would be a seri-
Gus mistake. The company which Sc
cured the permit for the slaughter
house protests through its attorney
that It does not intend to run counter
to the wishes Of the people in that
community. and says that it will pre-
sent another request for the permit on
March IA. following which a public
hearing will be advertised at which the
people may protect their rights.
The legislative committee of the Ar
lington County Civic Federation is ac-
tive and has the support Of all the or
ganizations in the territory affected.
The people want a dignified improve
ment of their close approach to the
beautiful Capital City, in harmony
with and cooperating with the plans
for spending untold millions of dol
l8TS lOT Va thS
Capital and its vicinage.
In these greater plans for Wash
ington City the near neighborhood in
Arlington County will have an i'm
portant share. This has been indi-
Gated by officials who are carrying out
the Capital development program, and
by specific legislation. Esthetically it
is for the advantage Of Arlington
ing highways beautifully bordered
with attractive homes and parkway
improvements. and as a cold business
proposition it will be greatly to their
advantage. The neighborhood of a
slaughterhouse cannot hut be de-
cadent. The value of the entire sur.
rounding area decreases rapidly as
soon as the slaughter plant is opened.
There is a good prospect that the
Board Of Supervisors of the county will
rescind their action on the slaughter.
house permit. Public sentiment will
support them if they do; public senti.
them responsible before the courts if
they fail to do SO, and thus damage
abutting property.
The Board of Supervisors and the
people of Arlington County are most
assuredly on tria! before the people
Of the country.
Congress had its ideals Most of