Evening star., 1937-05-08
ABATT0|R FIGHT
ByBENN|NC HOME
0WNERSPRESSED
Petition Being Signed for
Presentation When Hear.
ing Opens.
CITIZEN SEES RESIDENTS
LEAVING COMMUNITY
Householders Fear Opening Of
Saloons" to Add to Deteriora-
ton of Property.

Home owners in the general vicinity
OF the Benning Viaduct, where Adolf
Gobel, Inc. proposes to engage in
extensive slaughter house activities,
protested today against the threat Of
back of the yards" district being
created in an area that is just Begin
ming to benefit from park improve
ments after years of neglect.
If the abattoir isn't stopped, 10
years from now there won't be sim
gle white person left living in the
neighborhood," said Fred B. Monar,
who has lived in the 500 block OF
Ridge road for nearly Is years. With
others, he informed The Star that
petition is being circulated among
property owners with a view to pro-
testing to the Senate Committee at its
hearing next Tuesday at pm.
Fear SALOONS" Will Open.
Aside from the common odor nui.
sances associated with abattoirs, Mr..
Monar said that many residents of tho
area are concerned over the possible.
ties of saloons" opening up to add to
the general deterioration of residential
property values.
1T will oe just too bad for every-
body living in the whole area" he
said. We've waited long enough for
Improvements and now that Fort Nc
Mahon is being developed and other
plans are under way, slaughter house
will spoil it ALL
w. 3. Shaw and Mrs. Helen Fowler,
both of the Kenilworth lily gardens,
and w. D. Willis who lives on Ridge
road were others who protested 10
The Star against the abattoir plans.
Mr.. Monar said that the only property
owners in the neighborhood who ap-
parently were in favor of "stockyards
district" are those who hope to make
! money out of saloons and other little
stores that might spring up to catch
the slaughter house trade"
Truck Nuisance Feared.
Mr.. Monar feared the oders from the
live stock yards on sultry days and
nights would drive many persons from
their homes but he added that the
traffic nuisance which would be
created by numerous live stock trucks
would be almost as bad.
AS pointed out in the aba ttoir
report made by Frederick H. Walton,
Interior Department expert, Monar
said most Of the animals would be
brought to the pens in trucks which
would have to pass through sections
OF the area from the east or over the
V1aduct from the west. Benning Road
residents, particularly, would have to
contend with this nuisance. he said.
In recent years since active slaugh.
tering operations ceased at Benning,
the area has improved for residential
purposes and property values have
| increased. Home owners were said
to be anxious that this development
shall continue but fear the renewal of
| operations at the packing plant. es-
| pecially on larger scale than hereto
fore, would Immediately end all hope
OF further progress.
They are counting on aid, they said
from civic groups In other sections Of
the city east of the Anacostia. These
oSSoioilo, dLoo, NOulQ Oe adversely ale
fected by odors which investigators
say would be waited over wide areas.
Detriment to Stadium.
Meanwhile, the Southeast Business
Mems Association in a letter to Sen
ator King, Democrat, of Utah, said
the operation Of the plant would prove
a detriment TO the construction Of the
proposed stadium at the foot of East
Capitol street
Through its secretary, Louis F.
Fr1ck, the association pointed out the
undesirable condition now existing in
the form Of the garbage disposal plant
located at New Jersey avenue and K
street southeast.
For number of years." Frick said
in his letter to King, this section of
the city has endured the obnoxious
odors emanating from the garbage
disposal plant and We do not wish to
have additional unpleasantness such
as the slaughter house would render"