Evening star., 1936-11-15
HEAD Of HOSPITAL
AND WALLACE Join
FIGHT ON ABATT0|R
DeIano Also Attacks Gobel
Co. Plans in Reply
to Attorney.
PARKS CHAIRMAN SEES
FLAWS IN BLUEPRlNTS
Agriculture Secretary Bases Op-
position on Desire to Protect
National Arboretum.

Opposition to the Bennlng aDaIton
grew yesterday as Secretary OF Ag-
riculture Wallace and Dr. Edgar G..
Bocock, superintendent of Gallinger
Hospital, came forward to back the
Commissioners in their intention to
reject the application of the Gobel
Co. for a building permit and to
''fight 1t OUT in the courts.
Coming to the defense of the Ma
tional Arboretum, which Is under his
administration, Wallace based his
opposition to the possible conversion
of the Benning area into a slaughter
house district on the same premise
as President Roosevelt and Secretary
of the Interior Ickes, who seek pro-
lection for Federal park developments
For similar reasons and because the
odors from such plant would be
waited, possibly, to the hundreds of
patients and attendants at Gallinger,
DR.. Bocock declared that "the hos
pital feels 1t would be highly unde-
sirable for an abattoir to be con-
structed in close proximity to its back
door"
"Washington's city hospital" he
said, occupies one of the finest sites
Of any. institution in any city of the
country. and it would be most un-
fortunate to mar this situation by
permitting such an industrial activity
as its near neighbor. with the re-
sulting unfavorable conditions that
must inevitably accompany such an
establishment"
Delano Replies TO Gardiner.
The most damaging assault on the
Gobel plans, however, came yesterday
from Frederick A. Delano, chairman
Of the National Capital Park and
Planning Comission and also of the
Committee of 100 on the Federal City.
He re-entered the controversy by max
ing public n reply to w. Gwynn
Gardiner, q former District Commits
sioner and attorney for the Gobel Co.,
who had defended the proposed abat-
toir plant as a model one, approved
by the Bureau of Animal Industry
and subject to its inspection.
Delano answered the arguments ad-
vanced by the abattoir attorney, criti-
cised the proposed operations as larger
than conducted formerly and pointed
to alleged faults in the building plans
which. he said, could not prevent the
escape Of objectionable odors. He de-
manded also, In q vein Of sarcasm, II
the stamp Of Federal approval on the
meat product would prevent the sick
enlng smells OF q slaughter house
drifting into the wards of Gallinger
Hospital, or into business or reSiden-
tial sections?"
He also made five demands upon
the company for essential information
regarding certain operations in con-
nection with the abattoir, including
measures for disposing of "the nom
condensible gases which, we are in
formed by competent authority, form
the most violent odors."
Additional significance was attached
to Secretary Wallace's entry into the
controversy because of the approval
Of the Gobel plans formerly given by
his inspectors. Officials of the Animal
Industry Bureau, however, pointed out
recently that their approval in no way
was concerned with the abattoir site,
which was matter of local regula-
ton,
N Legal Fight Mapped.
Wallace sent letter to the Com
niissioners early yesterday as legal
aides were considering the action they
must take in fighting the Gobel suit
for writ Of mandamus to compel is
suance Of permit. He stated in
part:
Those In charge of the Arboretum
inform me that the character of the
area in that vicinity is likely to be
aversely affected by the presence there
OF . slaughter house, and I am calling
this back to your attention, feeling
that the general indirect results of this
kind will be an important considera-
ton In your handling of the applica-
tion for permit"
Federal and District legal aides have
not decided definitely on their course
OF action in the United States District
Court following the Commissioners
board meeting tomorrow, at which it
was expected that the Gobel applica-
ton for a permit will be formally re-
jected. This would serve to bring the
mandamus test to head and the ar
gurnents on the suit have been set for
Tuesday.
The "nuisances" which Mr.. Delanto
assails in his letter to the Gobel Co.
and references to the need Of preserv-
Ing the character Of the Federal City
are particularly pertinent In view Of
the impending court arguments.
~ Text Of Letter.
His letter to Gardiner reads as fol-
bows;
Thank you for your very informa-
tive letter of November 10 regarding
The proposal Of the Adolph Gobel Co.,
(see ABATTOIR Page B-3)