Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1936-11-01
.|CKES IS REPORTED
FIGHTING ABATT0|R
AS PARK NUISANCE
Said to Have Called City
Heads Attention to
Effects.
EFFORTS ARE EXPECTED
TO BECOME OPEN SOON
Large Low.Rent Housing Project
Is Planned for Future Within
1000 Feet of Plant.

On grounds that slaughter and
packing house operations near Ben
ming road and Kenilworth avenue
would constitute an offensive nui-
sance" to one Of the city's largest
park developments, Secretary of the
Interior 1ckes was represented yes
terday as directing an energetic cam
palgn in opposition to the projected
abattoir extension of Adolf Gobel,
Inc, in that area.
Through subordinates In the Ma
tional Park Service and housing
division Of P. w. A. it was said. he
has called the attention of the Dis
trict Commissioners to the "unpleas-
ant effects" Of such operations as
outweighing considerations of employ
ment.
Secretary Ickes has thus far kept
behind the scenes" officials ex-
planned, but is prepared soon to come
out in the open if that is necessary
to prevent the awarding of a con-
struction permit to the packing firm.
He is also causing a study to be made
determine the effect that the waste
from a large packing plant would
have on the new sewage disposal
plant which is being built here with
the aid of Federal loans.
Similar Problem in Chicago.
Coming from Chicago where SIM
liar problem was encountered in con-
nection with the Chicago sewage sys-
tenn, officials said he is personally
interested in this phase of the prob
lem In Washington, should the Gobel
plant be permitted to operate on a
large scale
Ickes' interest is due primarily to
the fact that he is custodian of the
park system in the National Capital
and also because of his plans for
building at some future day a large
low-rent housing project within 1000
feet Of the packing plant. A year ago
the Government purchased q tract OF
land in the vicinity in anticipation Of
erecting 700 housing units for white
families when funds become available.
Park officials explained yesterday
area are Anacostia Park, the pro-
posed stadium at the end of East Capi.
toll street. Fort Mahan, which is part
OF the Fort Drive and also Fort du
Pont. second only to Rock Creek Park
IN size, and now ready for public use.
When the approach from Baltimore
Is constructed as a parkway into the
Anacostia valley, officials said this
will be one of the main passenger en-.
frances to Washington. This would
pass about half mile from the pro.
posed slaughter house. The Fort drive
will encircle the top of Fort Mahan
to the East Of the projected industrial
development, "in a direct line to re.
celve doors from the plant" officials
said, particularly in Summer. when
the prevailing winds are from the
Southwest" Animal pens and other
equipment, they said, will be within
the full view of the users of the scenic
drive.
Stadium Site Nearby.
Fort du Pont is within a mile of the
proposed plant and about the same
distance away, directly opposite the
Anacostia River, is the stadium site.
Eastern High School and Gallinger
Hospital, it was claimed, also are in
line to receive odorS from the plant,
Future plans provide for a mum.
Der of parks, Fairgrounds and recrea-
ton centers in that section of the
city, all of which, officials complained,
would be affected to greater or less
degree by possible slaughter house
operations.
quite aside from these problems,
lckes was said to feel deeply con.
cerned over the possible effects a
large packing plant would have on
the new sewage disposal plant. p.
w. A. officials reported it is proposed
to send four sewer lines from the
plant to the main sewer already serv.
ing large district. The question
OF sewage capacity arises.
In Chicago, where P. W. A. built
$56, 100000 sewage plant, the pack
ing houses were compelled to pay
their share on the basis of actual
use, which city engineers estimated
was equivalent to 1000 900 persons.
some such arrangement, it was
thought, should be considered here if
the Gobel plant is permitted to con-
duct operations on a large scale.
According to information given
Ickes, it is proposed to slaughter
1900 hogs per week, 1000 sheep and
ZOO cattle, all of which would be
shipped by rail. In addition, a rem
dering plant and casing plant also
would be operated.
Despite modern methods of sIaugh-
tering and packing, officials protest
mat 1t is impossible to make q
slaughter house smell any sweeter by
calling it an abattoir."
The disposal of the huge amount of
waste from the proposed plant. of
course, is health matter that is being
inquired into.
At the same time the American
Planning and Civic Association.
through its Committee of 100 ON the
Federal City. Is taking measures to
oppose the issuance of a construction
permit to Gobel, Inc. A conference
was held yesterday morning which was
attended by Charles F. Consaul, vice
chairman Of the committee; John
1hlder, chairman Of the Housing Com.
mittee of the Committee Of 100; Mrs.
Florence Stewart, secretary of the
Washington Committee on Housing:
Francis p. Sullivan, chairman of the
Federal City Committee of the Amer.
lean Institute Of Architects, and Miss
Harlean James, executive secretary Of
the American Planning and Civic As
ISOLATION.
The Committee of 100, II was re-
ported, still stands squarely on Its pre-
viously adopted policy that nuisance
making industries have no place in
washington" from the aesthetic stand