The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1867-12-01

american
sinia horned owl Two Mexican deer. one Syrian
This number, added to the number on hand.
now on the Park grounds. Donations are OK.
pecsed from all parts Of the United States and
Ss a ana Various parts q ;Ss
general stock In the Arsenal buildings until the new
buildings In the Geological Gardens are In readiness 10
being graded, and every effort will be exsrted 70
have the buildings and walks ready By next summer
The Commissioners Of the Park are net willing a. this
time OF severe taxation. augment the city expenditures
They therefore are inclined to proceed on the assump
ton that q least portion Of the annual outlay Of the
gardens shall be returned from the collection OF mode
rate fee for admission to snch parts comprehend the
animals Of rare and costly character They have not
however, fully decided upon an admission fec. This
matter WV y r0re definitely determined upon as the
The cIo.os A9gsdqe. Department. have I is under
seventh street. at the south wing Of the gardens, OF
extra DEPTH Tor the purpose Of removing the surface
water that covers large ares in the ground formerly
ground by draining OF the surface water from adjacent
lots Will be q great desideratum In preparing the
ground for tho works Contracts and estimates are
grsssion, and will be continued towards It's completion
a. soon practicable. Occasional alterations In the
original plans IN the e vass iDs
Of the case may require The exact dimensions Of the
main buildings not therefore given in the above de-
scpton Of the exact extent OF land TO be used for
the present plot OF twenty acres win be inadequate FOR
all the purposes indicated in their general plan ana that
. considerable portion OF the Park, at its present
western boundary will have be Incorporated into the
plot selected for the Geological Gardens to be used for
and fields and barns for domestic poultry dogs 10
The Museum Of Natural History. situate on the south
orn wing Of the enclosure. on street.
between Eighth and Ninth avenues will occupy space
Of fifty feet width by go feet IN length The building,
constructed with view to durability and good taste,
will not initiate in appearance the osientatous edifces
thoroughfares but will be built solely to subserve conve
nience Of arrangement and the comfort OF visi,os The
design OF this structure now IN the hands OF the archi
tect It's apartments will BIO subdivided into classes,
viz for remarkable skeletons Of bpeds and quad
animals; mneralogy, conchoosy: curious and natural
formation Of carths, rocks, perefacnons, &c volcanic
specimens; and the rarcst works Of art % paintings,
sculpture mechanic arts implements Of the latest inn
provements In agriculture medical science, &C; all Of
which will be properly designated and labelled in
An interesting feature connected with the animal
notice the gradual and almost mpercepable changes Of
the animals from their wild TO their domestcated state
the different stages incident TO change Of climate,
food and liberty affecting their dispositions and general
character.
The most attractive feature Of the Gardens proper out
side OF the budings and occupying various spots
throughout its extent will be parterres Of natural
flowers, both Indigenous TO the soil and transplanted
from various cmes Some Of these will margin clear,
peucd brooks where and beautiful 6sh will sport
untroubed In their natural element, and delight In ap
propriang the crumbs thrown TO them BY tiny hands
Ho{houses and consercatorss win also iii thor appropr.
nooks wherein exocs Of all shapes and Sizes in their
tinted hues rvang their rainbow queen, will bloom Tin
festive spendor striving each for mastery Here too,
the luscious grape the delicate pomegranite the almond
the gauver the banana the orange and the choicest
Of S op rom IN ,s me s way lu
seeming to invite the forbidden touch Of eager fingers
Thus TO those who seek for sources Of pure and unal
ed delight will the poetry OF nature be spread In
ali its rich prouson and hardened must DO the heart
and astous the taste that cannot appreciate It's beauty
London Paris Antwerp Amsterdam and other cities
or Europe boast with too OF their geological gar
dens and In all Of these but little attention is paid
TO the natural wants and habits OF the animal they
simply imported, transpanted from thor native wilds,
and exhibited miniature palaces and gilded cages.
The mortality among them annually 10 necessarily great
In this country we have itinerant menagorcs,
casionally exhibiting birds which, from constant
transition from place 70 place, have lost
minus their coats Of natural fur from the same causs
these shows presenting At all times but pititul and
meagre collection cxiing no pleasurabe feeling in the
ordinary spectator Ind but little needed BY men OF
Under the most favorable circumstances il is matter
nS%o Of
make their exhibition either pleasurabie or edifyng
70 the spectator Add 10 this the fact Of their being
s'cabned, cribbed confined" IN narrow spaces on
upper story floors, where they neither allowed to
breathe the pure air Of heaven nor to tread their natural
earth. These exhibitions are punishment 70 the
animal while they are source moro or pain than plea
The vast Importance OF this work as means Of pleas
urabs amusement 70 all who choose TO avail themselves
Of the extensive facilities 10 be Afforded hem as prac
tca school for teachers Of our public schools professors
OF colleges and authors Of natural history and
OF interesting instruction 70 students and youth gen.
orally and pleasure 10 All must DO apparent 70 every
highly appreciated its undertaking by Its projectors too
freely commended
To consummate tins mammoth work TO is entire
completion will involve much outlay. The State
Legislature and our city Common Council have
already taken the initiative in the furherance OF this
nh IA tvtru nh ~
and OF human industry made TO subserve the works
OF nature which are the OF superior Power II
bshooves the citizens OF this metropolis especially
and the citizens OF our common country IN general TO
exert themselves by every means In their power to as
sst in promoting the object OF the Park Commissioners
sacrifice Of much time money the part OF peo
pie through their personal efforts and contributions and
by Influencing similar Interest in the work abroad
and Africa IN tho shape OF living animals,
and natural curioslties peculiar 70 all paris Of
forthcoming Is tho work progresses As il designed
ALSO TO make the collection Of American animals and
o sny s
ter Of imperative necessity 10 cay nothing Of national
pride for Americans in all sections Of our common
country engage at once In this duty Of advancing the
area OF American sciepufc and social progress
No enterprise either in this country or elsewhere %
broadly Useful II . Ussa u ~
that will snbserve erccnally the public wants All
honor then 70 the PARK Commissioners and 70 the
IMPROVEMENTS THE PARK
The following statistical Information connected with
the Park improvements during the past year and SUBJ
sequeny VIII be found interesting 70 the readers Of the
HERALD 70s trees and shrubs, and 1878 herba-
plants have been planted during the year ending
December a. 1896; nncs which time large number Of
trees and plants have been added
The average daily force Of sborer and mechanics for
the entire 365 days was 25o exclusive Of men employed
by contractors
During the period 1000 hand cart load Of horse
droppings have been secured, equal % 2aoo cubic
yards These droppings have been composted with
other material and found to b vey useful in fsrzins
The soil
Tho total length Of the Park drive Is nine aud bali
miles, the length Of the bride road Ii I've and half
half mies; the length Of the walk 10 twsniy-sx and
half miles. The above figures comprise the exact meas
ursment up to January fst 1897 since which time the
lengths Of the walks and drives have been considerably
augmented.
fho wear Of the roads from the action Of great num-
bers OF horses carriages aud Vehicles Of every kind,
required 1883 cubic yards Of gravel keep thom IN
proper condition. The roads show average wear Of
one and half inches Of the surface during the yoar
thus the average quantity Of gravel required TO keep
them in repair twenty cubic yards per day.
The additional improvements during the year erected