Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-01-26
FOR THE zOoLoGICAL PARK.

4
FOR THE BIOLOGICAL PARK.
| A Stone House to Re Erected Cor Caging the
Dangerous Animals.
| One of The more important buildings to be
included within the Enclosure of the geological
Park is to crown the rising ground opposite
the place where the Quarry road winds down to
Rock creek This is to be the carnivora house.
| The foundations have already been laid and
proposals have been invited for completing the
structure. 1t is expected to have it ready for
occupancy in the spring. The building has
been designed SO as to be ornamental and at
the same time an effort has been made TO adapt
the architectural style to the uses to which the
building is To be devoted. Plans for the build
ing have been completed, but some of the de-
tails may be omitted at present on account of
/ lack of funds. The design Is such that addi-
/ tons may be made hereafter without detrlment
| to the appearance or proportions oil the
| structure. The building Is to be constructed
/ of blue gneiss treated in rustic style. The
| inner courses of the wide arches over the en-
| trance and the large window are to be OF brick.
| In planning the interior the purpose has been
to provide abundance of light and to avoid
| the dungeon-Gke appearance usual TO build
ings where lions, tigers and other fierce ami
mails are kept. DIR. Frank Baker, the superin-
| tendent of the Geological Park, stated to a STAR
reporter that in designing this and other build
ings for the park the architect had practically
no models to guide him. This was almost an
entirely new field. No school Of architecture
has ever made q study Of the construction Of
animal houses. Although in the zoos at Ham
burg, Philadelphia and other cities there are
buildings, of course. erected for the purpose OF
combining carnivorOu5 animals none has been
found which answers every requirement, pro-
viding for proper ventilation and sanitation,
and at the same time having i'll view the accom-
mediation of the public who come to view the
animals
The general dimensions Of the building are
12Sx3o feet with extension on the north
side projecting 20 feet. The structure is so
placed that range Of outdoor cages connect
ing with the largest dens within will be on the
southern side, having the benefit Of the sun in
winter These outdoor cages may not be con-
structed at present, as the available funds are
limited.
In the interior is the large hall for the pub
lie. 100 feet in length and SO feet in width at
the widest part of the building. where the pro-
lection adds considerable to the floor space.
THE LARGE DENs.
On the south side are to be six large dens
and on the north side, ranged around the ex-
tension, are to be eight smaller cages. 1t has
been decided to place the two largest dens in
the center OF the south side. As these apart
ments, to contain probably lions and tigers.
will be centers of greater popular interest than
Others this arrangement will provide for con-
siderable space in front of them for the gath
ering OF people. II these dens were at the end
the assembling of many people in front of
them might completely block the way. In
planning the dens and the various Offices at
tached to the house many ingenious devices
have been adopted to promote the health of
the confined animals and to provide secure and
easy methods Of caring for the dens and their
occupants. The large den will be from ten to
fifteen feet width The r,arfifiopa hatw
them will be of white cream colored enam-
eled brick. 1t has been the aim in the treat
ment of the interior to give it a light and
cheerful aspect. The dens will be lighted from
windows and skylights above. The floors of
the dens will be two and a half feet above the
public floor Five feet higher will be a walk
or passageway in the rear of the dens, from
which the keepers can get easy access to the
cages for the purpose of cleaning them or of
closely inspecting the animals if neces-
sary. Each den will have smaller den or
retiring room attached to it, which will be
cut of completed from public view. To this
the animal occupying den can retire when it
wants to sulk or when it desires to escape OBJ
servation. Animals when constantly exposed
to public view withou. any means of escape it
is stated. become irritable and arc often Sc
riousiy affected ir health The space in front
OF these retiring rooms will be taken up with
inches, TO be filed with tropical plants Slid
ing doors are arranged SO the keeper on the ele-
waited walk in the rear can readily open or shut
the cages. As the partitions between the dens
are Of brick the animals cannot see worry
one another, and thus n cause Of much annoy
ance to keepers and sometimes serious injury
to animals in such collections is removed. The
interior is open all the way to the roof, which
will be finished inside in wood and iron. The
bars In front OF the cages are eight feet high,
and at that height connect with the iron work
of the ceiling. In the upper part Of the tower
at the west end there is a room for the keeper
IN arranOo6 that from tur0 VIII no haa
outlook over the whole Of the interior Of the
building.
WHERE THE NEAT WILL BE KEPT.
The cellar also has its uses in connection
with the animals- The cellar under the west
end will be used for keeping the supplies of
meat with which the animals have to be fed
From this there will be an elevator for hosting
the meat up to the main floor, where there is
a little room for preparing the food. All of the
cellar under the east END il to be devoted to
heating purposes. The hot-water system will
be used The remainder Of the cellar space
will be reserved for storage purposes. The
long range underneath the dens viii be used
for storing the coal supply.
The outdoor cages when constructed will be
| about twenty feet wide and rooted with glass
and iron. Animals in the dens inside can pass
out TO the corresponding cages outside
through openings provided for the purpose
The exterior of these openings will be framed
| IN wlsl huge. massive rocks, left with their
natural surfaces and giving an exceedingly
! den-like aspect to the view.
The buffalo house, constructed of logs
occupying another hill some distance from the
carnivora house, is nearly completed. The
\ bear pits will be literal caves In the cliffs
rising from the bed of the creek Just north Of
Lsnier Heights recesses have been blasted
out and these, when suitable gratings have
been constructed. will become the bear pits.