St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1890-09-19
To Be Located Between the
Cities and Under Local
Control.
Twin City Mayors and the
Governor to Be in the
Directorate.
Attorney Herbst Asks Some
Fee Questions Of the Of
ficialS.

a strong move is being made by an
association of st. Paul gentlemen
toward the Introduction at the next
legislature of a measure calculated to
secure to st. Paul and Minneapolis a
geological garden such as those of New
York, Boston and other Eastern cities.
An attempt was made to have such a
measure proposed at the last session,
but owing to the pressure of other
business the project was temporarily
abandoned. The plan proposed
by which such scheme can
be carried into effect without
serious strain on any ones resources is
to fix levy on the assessed valuation
of both cities, and to have an amount
equal 10 both assessments appropriated
by the state for the purposes named.
The idea has been much discussed and
is viewed with favor by the public spir-
tied people of both towns, who realize
that there will never be a time so favor
able as the present for putting into
practice any designs for the establish
ment of geological garden, such as is
proposed, than the present. A favor
able location for the garden, and one
which will probably be eventually de-
cided upon, is at the southern extremity
of the state fair grounds, which proper
ly belongs to the state. The plan for
preliminary housing of the animals Sc
cured, however, is to place them in
charge of the state experimental farm,
until enough has been learned of their
habits and peculiarities to allow of the
erection of quarters suited to them.
1t is proposed that the direct
ors OF the association shall
n mo as&
st. Paul, the mayor and one citizen of
Minneapolis, the governor of the state.
ard one member at large. The principal
object of the association will be to secure
specimens of those animals native of
the North and West, which are rapidly
becoming extinct, owing to the march of
civilization westward and nOrthWard.
and the incursions of pot hunters. Birds
and animals of the tropics will come
later. and it is estimated that in very
few years almost all specimens of ami
mails first desired could he obtained and
domesticated. A meeting of those in
terested in pushing the plan to realiza-
ton was held recently in Minneapolis,
and those present were unanimously in
favor of carrying Out the idea
on the lines here laid down.
An estimate of the assessment has
not yet been made, but as the estimated
firstcost of garden, fencing and shelters
is but $4,000, 1t will be seen that the
tax will be Insignificant. The projectors
think that after the first couple of
years the increase from the garden will
be sufficient. when disposed of to other
cities desiring specimens, to pay the
entire cost of maintenance. w. A. Van
Slyke, who is one of the most enthus-
lastic movers in the forwarding of the
geological idea. is about to take pre-
liminary step in that direction at his
own expense. He is having constructed
III Smith park steel cage twenty feet
long 10y twelve wide and ten feet high.
In this cage he will place his eagles, of
which he six has very fine specimens re-
Gently captured. Aid p. Conley has also
acouple of eagles which he will donate to
be placed in the cage for public edifica-
ton. Both of these gentlemen offer the
birds as a starter toward stocking a
geological garden, and the gifts worthy
the givers, for the eagles are very val
liable specimens. There seems every
probability that the proposition will be
carried out With the assistance of the
state guaranteed it's success Will become
certainty, and to st. Paul and Mime
apolis will belong the credit of having
brought to successful standing a plan
preservative which has been already too
long delayed.