Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-01-17
A BREACH OF TRUST
In the National Zoo Scandal Charged
Against Prof Langley.
CALL FOR AN INVESTIGATION.
The Enloe Resolution Will Be Pushed
Through in Congress.
SOME QUEER REVELATIONS EXPECTED
SPECIAL rrLEesAM TO THE u1srArcH.i

WASHINGTON, Jan. 16.-The resolution
introduced in the House bv Mr.. Enloe, of
Tennessee, requesting information as to the
state of the appropriation for the establish
ment of naval geological park in Wash
ington. will be called up for action shortly.
If this resolution is adopted some interest
ing facts will be brought to light regarding
the way the money of the people is ex-
pended by certain scientific gentlemen on
various philanthropic schemes.
The bill providing for the establishment
of the National Park, which is located along
Rock creek, in the suburbs of the city, be-
came law on the 1st of May. The collec-
tion OF animals for tine new Zoo were at that
time and are now Gagged within the grounds
OF the Smithsonian Institution. The bill ap-
propriated the sum of S92, 900 for the pur-
chase of 13S acres of land and the erection
OF the necessary buildings, fences, etc. The
bill was rushed through in hot haste. its
urgency being based on the alleged neces-
sity Of beginning work at once on the per-
manent Improvements in the park, in order
to have the removal of the animals at the
Smithsonian effected before the winter.
Why 1t Was Rushed Through.
Mr.. Cannon, who reported the bill from
the Committee on Appropriations, did SO
with the statement that "this appropriation
ought to be made, if at all, early in the ses-
sion, so that 1t can be utilized at the begin
ming OF the spring so as to care ior the
animals already in possession.
AS u further reason why it was desirable,
hat ha CHI ho
passed in haste, it was claimed by Prof.
Langley, of the Smithsonian Institution, in
letter dated February Is, 1890, that "the
collection OF living animals at the Smith
souian Institute is suffering for the commo-
dlous and healthtul quarters which can be
prepared for them in the Zoo Park before
the beginning of another winter, if the
work can be commenced without the loss of
more than half OF this years working sea-
son."
Congress listened to the appeal, promptly
passed the bill, generously gave every dol
lar that was asked for, both for the site and
for the Improvements, and then, with
strictly Congressional impartiallty, charged
one-half of the expenses of the new park to
the citizens of the District of Columbia. The
commission named for carrying out the pro-
visions of the bill is composed of the Secre-
Board of Commissioners of the District of
Columbia and the Secretary of the Smith
sonian Institution.
The Animals Still in Distress.
Gradually all the work was left to the
care Of the latter official, who seems to have
misconstrued the terms of the bill as mean
ing an appropriation for the benefit OF the
commission, instead of the establishment of
hu h,u al
since the law was enacted. and the animals
for which provision was made in such great
haste are still ut the Smithsonian grounds,
Gagged in muddy pens and in small, cramped
houses.
The rarest and most valuable animal in
the whole collection, mountain sheep,
has died for lack of exercise, which, with
proper management. might easily have been
had in the Geological Park. Some of the
animals are very rare specimens and in
some cases are OF a species almost, if not
quite, extinct. Not building, cage, pond,
road, bridge or anything whatsoever for
the reception and care of the animals, or the
accommodation of the public, has been con-
structed, and now, owing to the winter
weather, all work has been suspended. The
principal work that has been done within
the park the building OF horse barn, was
authorized by Congress. and was built con-
trary to the plans and estimates submitted
to the appropriation committee.
No Appropriation for Barns.
There was no appropriation made or asked
for the horse and COW barns which have been
built, and the only barns asked Tor were the
"shelter barns for the custody of animals, "
and specified in the estimates. The barns
for which Congress voted money have not
Haa nd he ~ ,;kI,
sonian are still suffering for them.
The S920 is rapidly being absorbed,
and buildings are being protected" a
'carnivora" house Cor example, of which
the foundation is said to be already laid,
and the park is being improved without
anyone at,its head who is zoologist, OF VINO
has any knowledge of the proper care OF
animals in captivity. The most serious
breach of trust, however, on tina part of the
commission, which is practically Prof
Langley, grows out of the manner in which
ne has divided the 16S acres.
According to an officially prepared map,
it appears that OF the whole tract only SO
acres is set apart for the accommodation of
the animals and the edi6cation of the pub
lie. All the remaining $50 acres is 're-
served" One piece OF ten acres is set aside
for an "astro- phi ysical observatory" and a
for the "park administration"
Valuable Land for Private Use.
The land thus sequestrated cost S54, 600.
According to the testimony of all persons
interested. except the Park Commission,
the finest part of the whole tract and the
most adapted for the comfort OF the animals,
is what is known as the Holt property, the
piece reserved for the private grounds of
Al. Id, fr,te -
fusal has been made to allow the buffalo,
elk, deer, ETC., to be quartered on this tract,
but instead the animals are to be located
on the opposite ridge on the free soil, where
there are no trees save miserable "lob lolly,"
or old field pines, which give no shade
whatever.
This part is without doubt the poorest
place in the park for the bufaloes. The in
tention Of Congress, as expressed in the re-
port of the committee, and Ihe debate upon
the bill, was that this zoo should be the
finest in the world, where all the animals
would have from four to ten feet space, and
yet only 3S acres, part of which is to be re-
served as public playground. is set aside
for this purpose. The rest of the land is re-
served for practically private grounds, and
the best part of the land which Congress in
tends for the animals is to be taken for an
astronomer and human anatomist.
All these facts have been known for some
time the very men in Congress who were in
strumental In securing the appropriation
for the establishment of the parks, and an
investigation has been prevented chiefly
through the efforts of the real head of the
Park Commission, who has taken pains to
keep the true state OF affairs from the
knowledge OF the public. To this end he
has assigned salaried employees of the Smith
sonian Institute to the task of Hooking
,,,,I h.