The New York herald., 1869-11-12
A MINIATURE WORLD.
Grand Projects Under Way at The Park
Tho Geological Gnrdens---A Vast Depot
for Wonders and AntiQuitieS--.The
Bear P.ts-..The HydFo-Saurus
Building---Lillipliian Fourth
EaIds--Inyalid Chairs---NfW
Geological Acquisitions.


The Comm,ssjoners-cyer active since some time
over ten years ago, when they first commenced 10
unearth the pestentia area that now iorihs tne
falrest 500 acres OF landscape gardenes III tue
word-are saH engaged in earnest measures "
make this resort still more elaborate 10 us design
and more complete in its details Ai-er aavin9 puit
elegant structures provided costly and enduring
arches vladucs, tunnels, transverse roadWays, ter
races and waterworks OF every class and variety,
ana adding to what is purely IN clement OF the
landsca>e with all OF It's important adiuncts they
have now begun to turn their attention to the con-
struction OF vast geological gardens and museums
OF natural history, which win hold, when completed
the rarest collections Of curious and instructive
species that can be obtained By agents in all quar-
ters OF the globe.
The Sl0,o0o,o0o that has already been spent IN
developing this tract into all OF its present shades OF
wondrous beauty has been 50 we disbursed that
visitors, not alone OF New York. but from all Sec
iions OF this country ana Europe, proclaim that this
Eden IN the geographical centre OF popuous city
is the best return aud constitutes the most enduring
receipt which the public could hold for SO munhcent
an outlay or this almost every one is satisfied; but
with this the Park Commissioners are not They
have provided retreat for weary metropolitans
and have filled it with all the gradations OF natural
beauty, heightened by the skill OF famous artists
they have opened miles OF drives, bullt and COM
pacteu Smooth rOauWays, Hlaue siluesJ eu-
tivated green swards, and have mingled wonderful
scenery with q more than Chinese veb Of rambes
and novel episodes. Yet they are not through with
their work. for IN these departments alone the Park
would be theatre OF mere external beauty, wlther-
Ing and periodical with the changing seasons. The
design extends beJond limits OF this kind. 1t Is
broad and comprehensive, and includes plans
for making the PARK repository OF learning-a
vast deposit where all the wonders and antqui-
ties Of the world can be seen and studied
III their native state-a place where will be
stored the actual subjects about which weary vol
umes seek the attention of the reader through
tedious roots in Greek and Hebrew, wherein the
dead languages are mutilated to find terms to de-
sgnate the living. In other words, the uneducated
who have not devoted q lifetime to the ologies will
be able 10 and understand everything relating to
the generation, propagation and general existence
OF all species of animal and vegetable life. Natural
historians, biologists, conehologlsts and other
mere professors have overloaded and interlarded
their valuable researches with pedaptic expressions
and forced means OF explanation that these highly
Interesting subjects have become purely exclusive.
No one now pretends to devote any time the nves
tgation OF Shells to the reconstruction of fossil
remains or the development OF kindred branches of
science except Il ls to write book, to deliver
ture, or string together some stale piaitrdes Tor
With this end IN view the Park Commissioners have
long and earnestly considered the subject OF pro-
necessary to accomplish the purpose. Such
move VIII popularize these branches, which have
been driven beyond the understanding of the unet-
tered, and will afford all opportunity to investigate
subjects traught with so much interest and which
have so lately become 80 important in the public
parks OF Europe When these works shall be COM
plete and otner details now contemplated inaugu-
Taed the Park will be the world IN miniature Every
species Of animal and vegetable life will be found
there IN one form or another, and In many they
already exist in unusual proiusion. Take trees Tor
such wonderful variety OF this department OF vege
table life. The decduous class and those which SIZED
their folage annually there from all climes and
under careful treatment flourish and multiply. The
cedars frs, pines, spruces and arbor rtG are
naples, eims, hckories and willows have splendid
growth so is 1t with the minor foliage with tie
Shrubs, the rare exotics and the plants which are
native TO American soil. Flowers in rich col
lection and endless variety are also among
the conqqests rcd oi TINS extended yegetaole
from animal life been introduced-animas brought
together from incoagruous climates and placed amid
artificial ores, Intended to be perfect substitute
Tor the original. This matter of attending TO the
proper organization of museums devoted TO the dis
play OF subjects from these two departments IL
more important than can be imagined, and i5 only
perfected alter long years OF actual experience.
dent from the fact That all the experiments tried in
European geological gardens are accessible and Will
be borne IN nina. Thus it Is that the Park Commls-
sloners hope to make their trust turn OUT great
pubic school-a spot where gratultous instruction
Of all kinds can be most readily impaired Of any and
all wonders, natural artificial or scientific Of which
the world knows. This is gigantic undertake ny.
Its almost unlimited extent might appal the most
executive but the past success Of every attempt to-
wards excellence has been SO marked at the Park
that there can be every confidence that the elaborate
scheme viii triumph. II should be understood that
nothing s left out in the general design and that
everything now extant VIII be before the VISITORS
eye.
THE GEOLOGICAL GARDENS.
Something heretofore unneard OF In this country
twenty acres 6ounde by EiShn and Ninth avenues gosss
and included between Seventy seventh aud Eighty
first streets thus embracing our blocks These gar
dens have been long projected, but not until recently
have the Park Commissioners been able to begin
active WORK. In extent they are TO lie among tne
largest In the world, aad IN capacity II Is intended
that they shall be inferior to none. There are SO
many considerations that operate in the deternina-
lion Of quarters Tor animals that the subject OF the
louslng OF the beasts has been one or no little per-
R'a y ss isls i. VI tl$s af Z F na
there afo six dstinet seasons or changes OF climate
climates which are INDIGENOUS % each distinct aps.
s as o &C. Il aaa aTea TS a
bsds ne snFSa sna S Sy MS 4a sp viii uy
outlay ana SS Sj eess 4e Care rsqane e an
Masls Q taAs which few undsrstand, and those VINO
DO aelstand 1t declare 1t the imperfect result o.
iafed uniofms wel considering the msage aceom naye
oaaons w whcm ths me Ga rat ATsena sor caa the
different species have beep connned in cages. "a
well arranged as thelr harrow limits would allow,
but the facilities iog hight ana other requirement
are poor.
In the new gardens now being constructed at
Seventyseventh street all OF these details are 10 be
elaborated In the most careful manner though the
plans are not yet completed. One OF the most inl-
portant features that VIII be- introduced is build
ings OF large capacity exactly adapted TO each
species. In Europe fancy srucares profuse IN o.na-
mentatAn ana flooded with all kinds OF inap-
proprlate gingerbread WORK. have been adopted
and can be seen in any OF the geological
gardens. But the intention OF the Comrnis-
soners Is not 10 follow this example,
but 10 provide quarters that are suited TO the wants
OF the animal. In general eacn species Will nhabit
separate building, ana that building Will be IN The
form OF q paralelogram, and Will be divided Into
three apartments Of equal size. One OF these rooms
Will be for q stall place OF repose, and VIII be
varied TO temperatures required by the nature of the
bear and the one adjacent Will nave mIldar atll0s-
phere, while the thlrd Will be an open enclosure for
iioic. the buildings are designed 10 be wrought IN