Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-07-25
NOT THE NOBLE BIRD.
Chief Bigelow's Westmoreland Eaglets
Prove to be Chicken Hawks.
GREAT DRIVE TO SCHENLEY PARK.
The Plan to Make Liberty Avenue a Mag
nifcent Boulevard.
NUMEROUS ADDITIONS TO THE zoo

Nearly all the City Hall officials were
out at Homewood yesterday. Chief Bige-
low, however, was in his Office. good-hu-
moredIy chatting about Schen1ey Park-for
be is always in good humor when talking
of his pet scheme. After talking about the
work there he suddenly exclaimed:
s'I have been deceived. My Westmore-
land county eaglets are nothing but ordi-
nary chicken hawks. Their legs are no
thicker than pipestems, and don't believe
the birds are even good grade of chicken
hawks"
The Chief finally recovered from his sor-
row, and began to talk about approaches to
Schenley Park. "There is NO good drive
out there now," he said, "and we ought to
have one. There ought to be an ordinance
passed prohibiting the laying of street rail-
ways on Center avenue. That would make
a fair drive. and there is no necessity for
street cars there. Liberty avenue, too,
would make good drive. am in favor of
an ordinance to compel the Transverse Line
to vacate Liberty avenue. They could run
on the other side of Penn avenue, Just as
WELL"
PLAN FOR A PRETTY DRIVE.
'The railway lines. on Liberty avenue
could be moved also, and we could pave it
with aspbaltum. Such an ordinance could
be passed. with a clause in it excluding all
street car lines. It would make great drive
to Schenley Park. One could drive out to
Liberty avenue, to Aiken avenue then up to
wilkins avenue. and from there to Schenley
Park by way of Shady avenue. We need such
a drive and don't see why such an ordinance
cannot be passed"
The improvements in the park are progress
ing rapidly and the two big steam rollers and
three road machines are making elegant drives
at rapid rate. One of the latest plans pro-
posed for the Highland Park Is lake. suffi-
ciently large for small boats. When the Bril-
liant reservoir was first built q site considera-
bly, below the present basin was selected Ex-
cavations were made and heavy masonry put
In, costing many thousands of dollars before it
was discovered that the elevation was not suf-
ficier to carry water to the higher portions of
the city. Then the original site and the work
expended on 1t was abandoned and work was
begun on the present reservoir. 1t is on the
old reservoir site that Mr.. Bigelow intends to
make the lake, and though a handsome affair
can be matie of it at a comparatively small cost,
he does not expect to do much toward it until
next season.
A little while before Mr.. Bigelow had been
looking for a forgeT E. H. Kundy, of 125
Edwards street. had called on Chief Bgelow
to inquire what price be was willing to pay for
foxes for the Schenley Park geological garden.
The Chief said he wasn't buying foxes, and
would not pay anything for them.
well. then. what does this mean?' asked
Kundy, exhibiting neat typewriter letter,
ut the bottom of which was the signature, "E.
M. Bigelow. dictated to L. E. R." The letter
consisted of a request for Mr.. Kundy to notify
Mr.. Bigelow at once of the number
of foxes he had for sale, their size,
species and value, and asked how soon he
could deliver limited number to the Zoo in
Schenley Park. AS Mr.. Kundy happened to
have in his possession pair of red foxes which
he had no special use for, he answered the let
ter in person and exhibited the letter.
A BAREFACED FORGERY.
Mr.. Bigelow at once pronounced the letter
forgery. the signature being entirely unlike
his He was thinking of taking the foxes, but
Controller Morrow laughingly told him he did
not have authority TO buy foxes. Mr.. Kundy
settled the matter by presenting the animals to
the Zoo.
President Ford, of Select Council, made a
further addition to the menager1e by offering
half dozen chameleons. A neat exhibition
case will be made for them. A covey of prairie
chickens will be the next addition to the list,
notice of their being presented by gentleman
of this city being sent to MI. Bigelow yesIer-
day.
1t was rumored yesterday that Barnum had
offered to present an elephant for the park,
but Mr.. Bigelow had not heard of it, and said
he thought the talk was meant for an adver-
tisement. He expects. however, to have an
from some source before long. When
Forepaugh was here he offered to sell the
largest elephant in his collection to the city for
81. 600. A gentleman who is interested in the
matter has signified his willingness to buy one
for the park, but he will not pay nearly so much
as $1,000 If one can be purchased for about
81, 200 he may buy it.
The Southdown sheep recently purchased by
Mr.. Bigelow have not yet been delivered here,
but are expected next week.