Evening star., 1937-05-06

In broaoside directed against "the
effrontery of this attempt to convert
the northeast gateway to the city into
a stock yards" Secretary of the In
terror 1ckes today called for public
support of the King bill, which would
effectively regulate such nuisance
industries in Washington.
Ickes had reference to the proposed
meat rendering plant at Benning, a
permit for which the Commissioners
were compelled to issue because they
had no other alternative under local
zoning regulations. Explaining that
he has started an independent inquiry
mot the effects of operating a pack
ing plant at Benning, Ickes said in
formal reports reaching him indi-
cate that most unpleasant results
will be felt throughout the Northeast
district"
His appeal for passage of the King
bill, now being considered by the
Senate District Committee, was made
in communication to Miss Harlean
James, executive secretary of the
American Planning and Civic Asso-
citation. This group, of which the
Committee Of One Hundred on the
National Capital is part, has long
sought to ban slaughter house ac.ivi-
ties from Washington.
Within Smell of Capitol
Ickes said:
1T is hardly necessary for me to
point out that heartily approve this
bill, which, as understand it, would
prevent the montsrous mistake of
allowing large-sized slaughter house
to be operated within sight and GER
tainly within smell of the Capitol
will be, of course, glad to lend the
fullest possible support to this
measure.
Il hope that you will be able to
impress upon the members of the
Senate District Committee the eff
frontery of this attempt TO convert
the northeast gateway to the city into
a stock yards. I am sure that every
thoughtful citizen of Washington,
every property owner who has any
sense Of realty values, every business
man and shopkeeper, will feel re-
pugnance when all the facts about
this outrageous enterprise are known.
ITO determine the effect of operat-
ing such nuisance at the proposed
location, / have asked a competent
authority to make an independent in
vestigation. The result of this investi-
cation will be ready this week. In
formal reports which have reached
me so far indicate that most unpleas-
ant results will be felt throughout the
Northeast district, to say nothing of
the odors which are bound to reach
downtown Washington. Any one fa-
miliar with Chicago, where stockyards
have been permitted to develop extern
sively, knows what that means.
"Abattoirs, of course, are necessary
institutions, but the place for them is
not within city. This is particularly
true of Washington, where the policy
of the Congress and the Government
has always been to discourage indus
tries. There is plenty Of room for
the proposed packing plant at some
point outside of the District, where
it would function efficiently and not
be an offense to the city.
Permanent protection of Washing
ton from recognized nuisance indus
tries is an objective deserving the sup
port of every citizen. I therefore am
glad to indorse heartily Senator Kings
bill"
Walton Directing Investigation.
The competent authority" to whom
Ickes referred as conducting an in
vestigation is Frederick H. Walton, an
expert of the Indian Bureau.
In 1928 Walton won a competition
for the design and construction of the
municipal abattoir at Buenos Aires,
capital of Argentina. This is believed
to be the worlds largest packing plant.
After building the plant Walton oper-
ated it for several years.
In addition, Walton built one of the
largest packing plants at Callao, Peru,
and was assigned there as engineer.
Recognized as an authority in such
matters, Walton has been in the pack
ing plant business nearly all Of his pro-
feSsional career. He has built rem
dering plants, wool washing and soap
plants all over South America and was
engaged by the Soviet government to
establish huge agricultural process
ing plant at Harbin, in Manchuria,
some years ago.
Walton is thoroughly familiar with
the plans Of the Adolf Gobel plant at
Benning. When the controversy over
its application for permit arose last
Fall, Ickes directed him to make an
investigation. 1t was largely through
his report of the inadequacy Of the
original plans that the Commission
ers delayed action until certain de-
fects in plumbing we're corrected.
Ickes also Is making study OF
soning restrictions in various cities