Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-10-18

Ff%H veloped for Transforming
tho o, ,s.s' Of , 49, ss's e; int. mt.
imals the like OF which does not exist else
where in the world. Very little that is deter
inmate has been decided upon as yet, but from
a great accumulation OF suggestions and pro-
jects the final scheme is rapidly taking shape.
Already the park has been fenced all around,
save where it includes the portion OF a ceme
terry near tho east bank of Rock creek. The
association that owns this burying ground is
removing the bodies as rapidly as possible,
and as soon as this has been accomplished the
fence will be completed. 1t is Of plain oak
palings, with three rows OF barbed wire above,
to keep the small boys from climbing over.
This fence was the occasion OF serious prelimi-
nary discussion. and it was agreed that it should
be as simple and as inconspicuous as possible.
The principal entrance to be used for the pres
ent will be-on the east side of the park. at or
near where the Quarry road enters, a bridge
with rough masonry piers and arches of logs
laid lengthwise with the stream providing u
passage across the creek. Probably the Quarry
road will he continued into the park. and the
roundabout course that it is proposed it shall
take is being laid out tentatively with stakes,
SO that it can be seen how it il likely to appear
The people OF this city may get to the park in
future by the 14th street car limo, il, as seems
prOOaDIc tnat ROAD DulluS n DOD-ta1leQ Dranch
along Kenesaw avenue, which leads almost up
to the proposed Quarry road gate.
FEW THoRoUGHFAREs DESIRED.
1t Is not desirable to have many gates, be-
cause that would imply numerous thorough
fares. and it is particularly desired that the
shy animals shall be able to find retreats. A
portion of the park which lies toward the south
end. pretty well shut off from all the rest by
the great bend OF Rock creek at that point, is
to be set aside from public use altogether and
be employed for such purposes as breeding and
caring for sick animals, as well as for offices.
In the seclusIon of this reservation the beasts
that are desired to breed will enjoy such natu-
raj conditions as are favorable to that end.
Here
SCIENTIFIC EXPERIMENTS
Of many sorts will be conducted possibly even
extending to psychical matters. Up to the
present time no attention worth mentioning
has been paid TO studying the minds of the
animals below man Ill the scale of creation.
That branch of research has been relegated to
Keepers and trainers. as IL it were not sort of
knowledge worth obtaining. At ali events, scien-
titic observations may be conducted on this
ground regarding the habits Of beasts and birds
and the limits OF species, among other things.
This latter question is a very interesting one.
When two ANIMALS of the same genus-hke the
dog and tho wolf for eXample-are found to be
unable, when mated, to produce fertile Off
spring, they are considered to be Of distinct
species. Such is rough definition of the
meaning of the word species. The horse and
the ass are Of different species, because the
reproducing its kind. II the mule were so
capable the horse and tho ass would be set
down Zoologcally as being Of the same apecios,
though of different varieties Take the case
OF the puma, which is found, with variations in
shape and otherwise, all the way from far
nf Am
these different pumas different species or
different varieties merely? Such questions
may be settled by experiments at the National
Park. IL 1t Is found that these various pumas,
when bred together, produce fertile young,
then 1t will have been settled that they are all
OF the same species and merely differ in point
Of variety. 1t is hoped that the park will
afford naturalists opportunities for adding q
great deal to present knowledge Of zoology
Incidentally, the creatures that die will be
carefully dissccted and their anatomy studied.
FoR EXHIBITION.
Immediately north Of the administrative reg
ervation is the great space-at some elevation
and separated from the secluded part by the
bend Of Rock creek, toward which it slopes
gently downward-where tho efforts of the
park management are to be altogether ex-
pended fo- the present Around this hill will
wind the proposed road and distributed about
IT will be the animals exhibition. Very
likely, as the plan most lately considered pro-
poses, tho tropical carnivora will have their
lnclosure at the highest part of tho hill On
the other side OF broad connecting road for
carriages it is suggested that tho great bird
houses shall be, where the macaws will souawk
the parrots enjoy conversation, the canaries
sing, the gay -feathered fowls display their bril-
liant plutnage, and 30 forth. Comfor tably out of
hearing Of the roar OF the lions and tigers, the
elephants will solemnly tread their grassy and
roomy paddocks, not disdainful OF the succu-
lent peanut contributed by visitors, while the
buffaioes in another spot will he given at least
two or three acres fer themselves to disport in.
Eventually it will be discovered what parts of
the entire park are best adapted for the resi-
dence OF various beasts and arrangements will
be made accordingly. OF course, it is not in
tended that they shall be confined to one Sec
ton when the great pleasure trac. has been
put In proper order. At presen. the manage
ment Is Obliged to restrict its operations to n
comparatively small area, because Congress
has given it only $4,000 so far to spend. 1t
cost Sl4, 600 an acre to make Central Park what
1t Is, but then 1t must be considered that there
was very little to begin with. Probably $4,000
an acre is all that is needed to put this park
into shape. For 167 acres that would moan q
necessary appropriation OF about $500, 600 al
together. 1t remains to be seen whether Com
gress Is willing to be generous to that extent
10 show that this sum is not an excessive de-
nand. 1t is sufficient to refer to the Cincinnati
Geological Park, which recently spent S245 600
In getting started on q comparatively small
scale.
NOT TO INTERFERE WITH NATURE,
Tho idea entertained by the management is
10 interfere as little as possible with the park
as nature made it. 1t would not be easy to i'm
prove upon it. save by the building Of roads,
the construction Of some ponds the planting of
grass on slopes that have been denuded by
water, and the filling up OF gullies that drain
age rivuiets have made through the meadows
As for ponds the park does not afford MANY
advantages, large nat places for tho purpose
being lacking. One plan considered has sup-
gested line OF ponds at the south end of the
hill spoken of and on the north side of the big
Rock creek bend. strip Of land being left be-
tween the stretch OF ponds and the creek for q
breeding and retiring place for shy birds. No
planting OF trees In the park is contemplated
save around the edges, where it is likely that
rapidly-growing naples, poplars and cotton
woods will be started, the object being to shut
away from the park all that is outside Of 1t, in
order that tho visitor may feel himself Is much
secluded with nature AZ possible.
BREEDING BUFFALO.
Such success is anticipated with the breed
ing Of animals in the National Park as has never
been achieved hitherto. Most particular At
tention will be paid to the buffalo which ia
now SO nearly extinct that only 1000 repre-
sentatives exist of the countless herds that
used to obstruct the passage of transconti-
mental trains. or these fow surviving buffalo
256 are in captivity. Two hundred more are
unconhned in Yellowstone Park; they are safe
from destruction unless they roam be yond the
boundary OF the government reservation Also
there are 30 head running wild in the United