The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-13
new PARK IMPROVEMENTS.
The birds Transferred TO the
New Ayiary.
a Site Selected for the Thomas Starr King
Monument, Which Will Be Erected
at 0ncs.

All the park birds, with few exceptions,
were turned loose yesterday morning in the
north wing or the new ayiary. The only
ones left in the old quarters were the
Guatemala pheasants. and they will be
shortly transferred. The other pugnaciOus
phessants are apparently much delighted
with their new home" and such OF them as
were physically able were stretching their
legs over the hills and hollows and through
the bosky dells of their more eomm0dious
boarding house.
1t was not deemed best to allow the par
rots to mingle with the other birds. The
Commissioners wisely thought that such an
arrangement would cause trouble. and SO 1t
would.
The parrot is altogether too talkative, and
its gossping tongue would no doubt break
up many happy family by carrying tales.
All birds carry tails. for that matter, but
the parrot, with its gift of CAB, is an ande-
srable member in any well-regGlated bird
community.
a note was received by the Commissioners
from Mr.. Docke, on Fillmore street, in
which he stated that he would present a
colony OF birds TO help populate the new
avlary. The generous offer was accepted
and man dispatched for the colony which
includes forty singing birds OF different
varieties. II others would only come for
ward now and do likewise the donations, to-
gether with the birds secured by The Com
misSiOners, would present an array of
musical talent IN the ayiary that would
make ii one OF the most attractive features
Of the park.
The old aviary is to be removed TO the
chlldTen's playground. where the parrots
and other interesting bipeds will be quar-
tered as a side Issue TO the more extensive
exhibit. The new structure is model one
portion Of the top being covered with
glass To prevent the chill sea hreeZeS from
HhlStlIBg through the piumage OF the birds.
Other improvements are being added 10
the park Which Will in time make it as at
tractive a. any Of the famed resorts of the
same kind in the East. It's natural beau
ties are many, and these are constantly
being improved upon.
THE STARR KING MONUMENT.
Yesterday the Park Commissioners and a
committee OF tile Thomas Starr King mOlu-
lneut donors. beaded by \. L. Stetsnn, Sc
leeted a site for the statue of the man whom
Calif0rnlaas love TO honor.
The spot selected is on a sloping piece of
ground about 100 yards west of the new
aviary, and work on the foundation will be
started az once by John Faubel, who has
charge Of the erection. The statue was re-
ceiyed six months ago. and the pedestal and
Stone blocks for the foundation are on the
way When 1t is in position the entire
structure will be % feet high, with 25-foot
base. The statue proper which is of bronze
i, Il feet high from foot to crown and the
pedestal and steps lead ng up TO it will
have an elevation Of y feet. 1t will face
due west, and will be in plain view from
the new ampitheater and the walks and
drives in that portion Of the nark.
Thomas Starr King was Uniterian min
lister, who came from Boston to this city lin
1860. he at once identified himself with
the people Of California and took their in
terests at heart with as much zeal as if he
had been one Of the earliest settlers. He
went outside Of the pulpit, and welded
powerful influence, doing much to preserve
harmony In the State at the time of The re-
belllon. In March, 1864, he passed away,
but in the short time he was with the peu-
pie he won thousands of friends by his lofty
principles and magic eloQuencP. His death
was universally regretted. aud it is doubt
ful II he had an enemy even among those
who differed with him On theological mat
tiers.
TIL NEW BANDSTAND.
at present the ground in the vicinity of
the monument looks like Wilderness, but
when the cOntemp plated improvements are
finished that portion Of the park will be a
vertab!e garden-spUt. For distance of 800
yards westward the rising ground on either
side forms natural amDhilheaIer at the
further end of which new baBdstand will
be located.
The ground will be sodded and new walks
laid out, but no grading will be done A
driveway is to be constructed along the
north side of the buffalo paddock and con-
tinuing on to the high bluff overlooking the
sea. That portion of the drive opposite the
bandStand is to be paved with tanbark to
deaden the sound Of moving vehicles.
a much laTger seating capacity will be
provided in the new amphitheater as the
old one is too small to accommodate the con-
stantly increasing crowds. The new loca-
ton IS great improvement over the present
stand, as it is situated in valley protected
by the bluff aud groves of trees from the
ocean winds. This improvement will not
be completed for some time yet.
AS soon as the statue is in position a force
OF men will be set 10 work clearing away
the underbrush in the valley and getting the
ground in readiness for the cultivation of
plants and flowers. 1t will take nearly
year to do this work, and in the meantime
music will be served at the old stand