Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1874-08-26
PHILADELPHIA BIOLOGICAL
GARDEN. in

PHILADELPHIA BIOLOGICAL
GARDEN "
The project of establishing zoolo
gical garden in Philadelphia was frs
contemplated In 1859, and a society
was organized for the purpose, but ow
ing to the breaking out Of the rebel
lion and other causes, nothing was ac
complished until the early part Of the
year 1872. The society was then re
organized and met with every cncour
agement from the citizens, not only by
the libcrality Of their contributions but
by the interest and zeal manifested in
the undertaking. After some delay
the society obtained from the Commits.
sioncrs of Fairmount Park piece Of
land of about thirty-three acres, stu
ated on the west bank of the Schuyl.
kill river, commencing at the terminus
~ tho f'i'a~d ".-es.s .h-iies. Tha 80
ciety consists Of annual members who
pay five dollars on election and five
dollars annually thereafter and life
members who pay fifty dollars. The
board of managers, however, find
ing that the work could not be prop.
crly carried on without more means
than that derived from dues of mem-
bers, decided to issue stock, the sub
scribers 70 which are guaranteed six
per cent. interest on the amount sub
scribed, besides a certain number of
admission tickets. In a short time
they succeeded in disposing of quite a
large quantity of stock, and the work
is now progressing rapidly. The gar.
den was opened to the public in the
beginning Of July, and the number Of
visitors on the day of opening exceeded
eight thousand.
A fine row Of beech trees grects the
visitor on entering, and offers fresh
and agreeable shelter from the rays of
the sun. Not far from the entrance is
also found the restaurant, a neat little
building, inviting to rest and refresh
ment. Furtheronis the monkey house,
a handsome structure, octagonal IN
shape, puilt oil oak and slate, the cage
in the centre extending from the floor
to the ceiling, with passage for visit
ors around. This building contains a
fine collection of monkeys and baboons.
Near are very small cages, containing
such animals as the wombats, agoutis,
coatlmundis and Others, in which are
seen fine macaws and several species of
'"e ouriassoMs'
An interesting memorial Of the times
iarther back exists in the shape of an
old two-story revolutionary mansion
called Solitude, which was occupied
by the Penn family as a country resi-
dence The lower part is devoted to
an aquarium, which consists of small
table tanks, and the upper part is used
Tor ofhces OF the society Coming to
rustic bridge we observe that it cross
es stream which divides the garden
INTO two nearly equal parts. This
stream takes Its source from spring
IN the grounds and is adorned with
numerous waterfowl, among which we
notice the black swan, magpie duck
ana numbers oil wading birds from Aus
traiia: A group Of rustic buildings
containing the deer family are very
.asteiul'y arranged, each havlnga court
III iron'. Among the corrections can be
seen ,ne american elk, virginia black
.allea ana mule deer, also magnincent
eianu ana l'ama'
The most attractive feature in the
garden is the bear-pit, stone structure
having three compartments, with i'm
mense poles in the centre Of each. The
PIT Is always surrounded by visitors,
watching brain climbing the poles and
rewarding him with piece OF cake or
cracker. The specimens consist of the
grizzly, black and brown bear. The
bisons occupy large rustic house with
a court in front. In going to the eagle
house, which is very handsome wire
structure we see fine elephant, about
two-thirds grown, tethered on the lawn.
The large aviary in process of erection
not being quite ready for use, the birds
intended for that building are tempo
n.ad So. I.swx I....I