Evening star., 1937-08-27
SLAUGHTER HOUSE
AREA MAY PROTEST
BY TAX CUT MARCH
Civic Leader Sees Action as
| Next Step After Ickes'
| Warning.
DISTRICT OFFICIALS
| CONCERN INCREASES
Interior Department Aides Point
to Previous Resembling of Grants
for Development.

"A taxpayers march on the District
Building to demand lower assessments
on real estate holdings in certain sec
tons OF the northeast was suggested
today IN answer to Secretary Ickes'
warning that the projected Gobel
slaughter house would deteriorate
property values in affected areas.
The possibility of Ickes holding up
further park improvements in the
Benning neighborhood as a sequel to
the slaughter house, now being con-
structed, evoked a statement from
Fred B. Monar that "a march on
the Tax Assessors Office seems to
be the next thing in order for prop
erty owners" AS a leader in the
losing fight Of many northeast tax.
payers for protection against nuis-
ance industries, he said he feared
many OF the residents in our section
eventually will be forced out of their
homes because Of the obnoxious
slaughter house odors."
A keen anxiety over the situation
was reflected in the silence of Com
missioner Melvin C. Hazen and most
other District officials They we're
caught unprepared by Ickes sudden
change of tactics in a controversy
that has worried and embarrassed
them for many months.
Allen Fears for Values.
Tax Assessor Fred D. Allen, how
ever, did venture to make a mild as
sertion that "a slaughter house and
stockyards filled with animals are not
going to help real estate values any
in the Benning district" He said
values in the vicinity have been about
the same for the last three years.
There Is very little development go
ing on there now" Allen explained
and indicated that stockyard opera
tions probably would halt any further
residential development near by.
According to testimony at the
House hearing on the anti-nuisance
bill, failure of which paved the way
for the Gobel Co. to go ahead with
construction of it's Benning plant, the
section within a one-mile radius is
predominantly residential. There are
l,l87 houses, seven churches, 80 stores
and three schools.
Since the destruction Of the old
Loffler slaughter house on the Ben
ming site several years ago, there has
been a rather steady growth Of resi-
| dental improvement within that ra-
dius 1t is mostly district OF small
| homes with much undeveloped acreage
available for building.
For every house that is prevented
| from being built because Of the Gobel
| plant the District will lose from $50
| to 500 in taxes" Monar said. II
future development is retarded to q
| great extent, I venture to say the
| District will lose great deal more
| than it will ever gain from the Gobel
| taxes"
| Says Sales Affected.
He claimed there are number OF
houses and lots in the surrounding
| area which cannot be sold because
of antagonism to proposed slaughter
house operations.
Adelbert w. Lee, realtor who
operates largely in the northeast and
who Is president also of the Randle
Highlands Citizens Association, said
that no doubt within half mile
radius of the Gobel plant there would
be shifting about" He expressed
the opinion that some property owners
no doubt would move away" but on
the other hand he believed persons
employed at the plant probably would
move in close to it where rents are
| cheap
| The Randle Highlands Association
| did not take any action with respect
| to the slaughter house because most
of our territory is pretty far away"
Lee said, "but many residents in
North Randle Highlands are disturbed
over the situation"
| He said he did not believe, as Ickes
does, that the slaughter house would
have an unpleasant effect on q very
wide territory.
Study Data Prepared.
Interior Department officials expect
to make a study of the report on
proposed expenditures in the Benning
neighborhood which Frank T. Cart
side. acting superintendent Of Ma
tional Capital Parks. has prepared
for them. 1t was ordered by Secretary
Ickes just before he left on a vaca-
ton.
Officials at the Interior Depart
ment said that the Secretary is Ger
tainly going to give this matter very
careful attention" They pointed out
that he has frequently rescinded P.
w. A. allotments to communities
when he believed that the taxpayers
would not receive the full benefits
promised.
For that reason, they reminded. he
had taken steps to safeguard P. w. A..
expenditures in connection with the
new sewage disposal plant in the
District which local taxpayers have
to repay at the rate Of $1,000,000 .