Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-01-23

SSepo That Have Been Taken - L.
taolisA q Garden Here.

STOPS That Have Been Taken - -
tablisA . Garden Here.
THE CHARTER or rHR WASHINGTON sooEooF.
CAL sOCTErY-MR. BARNUM OFFERS TO OPEN
200" on TIL RECLAIMED FLATS, ETC
The proposition to establish q sociological
garden In Washington IL not new with Judge
Ord, who has donated q strip Of land TO the
District for the purpose. It was put into prae
tical shape sixteen years ago, when company
was chartered to have charge Of the enterprise.
The act OF incorporation was approved June 81,
1870, and is still in force. It waa entitled On
act to incorporate geological society in the
city OF Washington, aud named Henry D..
Cooke, Geo. w. Riggs, James G. Kennedy,
Spencer +. Baird, Gen. q. o. Howard, 7. w.
BARLEY, Joseph Casey, Horace Capron. James
c: Mcclure and George Taylor, as the ineor;
held by the surviving incorporates, but moth
Ing has been accomplished Ia the way Of ear
rytng into effect the provisions Of the charter.
THE POWERS OF THE SOCIETY.
This act provided that the company "n,ay
purchase or lease any real or personal estate
required for the purpose aforesaid; and after
the said geological garden shall be established
She said company, for the purpose ofpayfng the
expense of the same, may charge and receive
i've cents for each and every person over tho
age Of twelve years, and ten cents for each and
srsy Rs,son Under the SAID sge pf9s,assn
each ana every week. open said garden TO All
classes for charge not exceeding ten eents
each It also conferred upon the eonpany the
animals intended for tho collection In the gar
Den, and the free use of the Potomac water fOr
hyorantS, ponds and fountains In the garden.
MR.. BRANUMs PROPOSITION.
Prof Spencer +. Baird, who is one of the in,
corporators named In the act, holds letter
from MIR. p. T. Barnum, the Snowman, in which
Mr.. Barnum makes proposition to establish g
geological garden in this city If Congress Will
grant the use of thirty acres Of the
pose and also the privileges vested
In the geological society Incorporated by
the act mentioned. MI. Barnum offers to expend
$4,000 In improving and identifying the
garden, II the privileges he asked are accorded
him. His idea is to make this garden the rem
1sss1s for his msnageriss and a .h ether ass
when they are not on the road. During four OF
1--WE months of the year there would be q large
collection Of animals there. This city Is pre-
parativefy mild winters, and the railroad factit
ties which it possesses.
THE FLATS.
Prof. Baird, in speaking of the project to a
STAR reporter, expressed himself as favoring
the location of a geological garden on the fats
which. if the contemplated improvements are
carried out, would be easily accessible from the
city. A few years ago there was talk also OF
utilizing portion OF the sherwood property,
In the Northeastern part of the city, as ZOO
logical garden, and several meetings were held
by gentlemen interested in the project, but no
practical steps were taken TO carry the design
into effect
''zoos" IN OTHER CITIES.
Most of the geological gardens in this country
are owned by stock companies. The Philadel.
phia $780, situated In Paramount park, is an
example. The one in Central park, it is said, is
the only free geological garden in the United
to stock Company, Who Charge al fee for admis:
sion.