The sun., 1890-04-14
WHERE TOPUT THE ANIMALS.
OPINIONS OF FRhDERICK LAW oLM-
STED IND OIHEES.

| ing the m msnagerie from its present site at six
| ty-fourth street and Fifth avenue TO some other
| place. Various sites have been considered.
/ among them being one north Of the reservoir
at Ninety seventh street, on the west side OF the
| Park. The Commissioners have not been OF one
| accord on this subject, three Of them favorinG
| the Ninety seventh street site. while President
Hutchins has opposed all the sites suegcs sted
and has been in favor OF an immediate removal
OF the menagerie to some spot outside Of the
Park, on the ground that the area Of tue Park
is not more than Is absolutely needed for
purely park purposes.
Alta meeting held on March u resolution
was adopted which called uuon Calvert Vaux.
landscape architect OF the Park Department
and William A. Coukln ami Thomas Hastings
OF the staff TO consider and report upon the
fixing OF a site for a new menagerIe north OF
the reservoir and between the east and west
drives and also to report II in their opinion
any other site would 10 preferable. These
three gentlemen met and reported that the
present site was manifestly unsuited for per-
manent occupation. and that II a location within
the Park was considered necessity, the trian-
gle between the reservoir and Transverse Road
No would be the site open 10 least objection,
Mr. yaux was opposed to any site within tho
Park. and he atterward addressed a letter TO
the Commissioner In which lie declared that
the Park contained no more space than was
sufficient for purely park purposes and that II
would be much wiser to remove tho menagerie
entirely Mr.. Frederick Law Omsted. who
was called upon for an opinion on the subject
said that while the site might be secured with
in the Park. It would be better II a suitable
place could be found outs de Of il. lie made
long report on March IS, in which ms dcrng
the geological garden. he said 1t would bs
necessary TO keep in mind tha: the me-
nagerie would be continually increasing.
and provide a sufficient area FOR its
spreading In considering tie health aud
comfort Of the animals, a site should te found.
he said, in which local conditions were up to
the requirements. These were. first. that a
good part OF its surface should Slope g. the
south providing q sunny exposure: second
that there was nothing to the Immediate south
ward to prevent its being swept By southerly
breeZes; third. that there was protecting rise
Of ground on the north; fourth. that It should
have q freely permeable soil tlith that there
should be a running stream or flowing pool Of
water in il. None OF these conditions. lie said.
existed In the proposed location north OF Tho
reservoir. OF this he said:
Its surface slopes to tho northward. which
is the worst possible exposure; second, there
is ridge running along its southern boundary
its surface. third. there is no elevation shield-
ing 1t from the northerly winds; fourth. it has
a cold. imrermeable soil AMI u hard-pan sub
soil: fifth 1t has no permanent surface water"
After reviewing the present conditions and
tho PROPER purposes Of public parh, Mr.. Ohm
sted continued
Having regard to the purpose Of rr5viding
village OF pretty houses adapted 20 the lodG-
ing OF animals on each side 4 u byUaI avenue
1t is good plan euttrey ere !itar.e ~ the tai
erted architect. who has evidently designed it
for that purpose. That which IS bad in the
matter is simply the necessity II destroying
for such a purpose 50 rare an opportunity OF
securing in the middle OF great city perfect
bit OF charming picturesque PASTORAL scenery
such as there will surely be AZ this point in
few years II nature is Above! 10 keep on her
present course
He thought that a less Objectionable site
would be the ground which the city once In.
which lies west oi tho Wl,ter Drive. between
tbs. o' seyera acte. . in eNtent i wfo,e Mr IH..
stei has souther.y aspect IS ON 70
southerIy b:ee,e-. an! i ~hel'Gtei ly m.ch
higher Gru.L! n tLp uprtA. Il contains
con-.ta able toty ut WI or. with beautiful
ruck-bount a,d tree-sha4owed tark Tie
a. to be corparatIvely secluded, and almost
completely shut ut II any II the orep Pros
PEGS OF tn Az by eNis,it. vel. WI trees
Speaking OF t." man IT III which the me-
nnGerIe cam, to be formed within the lark, Mr..
''Orisinally the PARK Commissioners dill not
nten1 that any Of IT, M ,eEFt2Fy @ at t4@ir dl.
vas 'e eXi.s,el that The ii Arseua. win wai'i
the land taken for Central Park was eutum-
teged wOu.! soon max way iyr the screening
as a limit to the eastward view from the Ilith
avenue entrance way. Tending lis removal
Of then, having been. | think, pets OF children
who had died or WHO werI leaving town. item
Iorary place va provided 70. them in the
70 time rrc@"n,et, the tommlssiouers never
liking to decline gifts 10 tho city. had Iens and
nal. At later Ieri i the director WAS ai-
lowed 10 make the collection more interesting
by eAchanses and still lntsE 3y purchases apd
present conditions have beon gradually ap-
strongly sympatlize." he sail with the
desire that there should be fine. permanent
exhibition OF animals rear the centre oi the
city, an regret exceedingly that cannot
think that a more toIle!4b.e place can be made
for II than Central Park, except at a sacrifice
Of that which Is even more desirable than such
an exhibition would be. Central Park will MT
much longer ha found uver large for the simple
purpose for which 1t was originally desi Snei.
and for overcoming the natural Obstacles for
which tho city has made such large outlay. IL
is only By q 5 r"nuou7.y conservative policy
TIM! this outlay Wi. no: =" wasted
iEnGtlnG site for n 10 logical garden in Cen
tral Park on o plot Of ground lying between
Ninety and lpi,h streets. between
Eighth avenue and the West Drive. At ho
same time the Board oi Estimate ana Arpar-
tonmen: was requested by re-, luton 10 ar
prUpriat" III" sum OF tj.uuU for the purpose OF
preparing plans Tor the laying out Of the land
and III" erection OF necessary buildings. AZ a
meeting held on April =. these resolutions were
endorSAd by tho majority of 'he Bonri agn -
President HUtGhinS's ob ectious. Fetwecn tho
dates oi the two meetings lIanS for now mo-
nAEerle mad been prepared, which included q
main hall. 600 feat long and seyelHl smaller
buildings. The cost q these was e-tima'ed ~
sjVu,uuv, which the Pa'k Commissioners will
ask the Board OF I,stimat" and AppQrtionment
y Appropriate II was also r''~olved to ask the /
Legislature for an additional grant OF $50 900
TO oe used in improving the sits.
II is still questionable. however. whether
these plans Of tho lark Department will be
carried into effect Tier" Is now pending in
the legislature a bill introduced on April hy
Mr. hUaG, providing for tho incorporation OF
an association OF New York geutlemcr for the |
purposes OF establishing a.. d maintaining with
IN tins city geological ani botanical gar len |
iGr iG me pnrn9ses OF encouraging and adyancipg
me study OF zoology and bu'any and furnish |
ing Instruction and recreation TO the I"0pn. |
Inc Olil PROVIDES that the uark shall NJ too |
situated tf sfF b RI