The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1894-02-07
UNCLE SANS LITTLE zoo.
A CURIOUS BRANCH OF THE GUS
TOM HOUSE SERVICE.
How Animals COnfiscated for Nom
Payment of Duties Are Cared For
Until Sold at Auction.

~ Uncle Sam owns, is Doard-
ing-house for animals, or the
"Animal Castle Garden" sit is known
among shipping men. It is not to be
inferred from this that our dear old
Uncle is fond of pet animals, that he
has set up separate establishment to
keep them in. The aim of the place
is much more business-like. In fact,
it rather disappoints one to hear that
the quadrupeds housed here are some
what tainted with the mark of the out
cast, for they are not honest animals,
like those seen every day; they are
animals which the Custom House Off
GERS have seized from those who we're
about to smuggle them into this coun-
try.
'It is only few days ago" said one
of them, "that we had sale here OF
four French poodles and three English
pugs which had been seized on board
the steamer Weimar by Custom House
Inspectors Hussey and O'Neil. The
officers were searching for something
else, but stumbled across these seven
bow-wows and promptly gathered
them in.
As soon as any animals are contis-
Gated in this manner they are at once
forwarded to these stables. The prin'
cipal work done there is in handling
of horses and cattle which are on their
way to Europe. When found necess
sary to have boarding place for the
smaller fry the old animal place was
naturally selected as the most conven-
lent one.
When such animals are brought to
the stable the United States Live
Stock Appraisers inspect them at once
and appraise their value. They are
| kept week or two and then are dis
| posed of at auction. The owners OF
the stables charge from thirty to fifty
three cents day for keeping an ami
NAL, and it is necessary for the au-
thorities to get rid of the boarders as
soon as possible in order to escape
enormous charges. When not sold at
once the charges for keeping an ami
NAL frequently exceeds the price it
brings at the sale, and then there is
unpleasant language all around. One
dog which was brought to the stable
when the animal boarding house was
first instituted remained there 30 long
that the charge for his keep amounted
to nearly 800. Meanwhile, from the
effects of the long confinement, the
canine, magnificent mastiff, had be-
come bowlegged. Hence, when he
was finally put up at auction, he
brought just seventy-five cents.
The top floor of the stable is de.
voted to keeping the animals, and
here, in all the hay and straw, they
have a very snug nook. The younger
dogs are kept in large cage and, tc
Judge from their appearance and lively
actions when taken out they lacA
neither food nor comfort. OF course
these quarters are not always avail
able, as when n drove of hogs II
brought in by the inspectors. The last
time this occurred five large porkeri
were domiciled in the cellar under the
establishment, where they thrived and
became wonderfully fat, so fatted thai
it was with difficulty they could be
moved mp the stairs.
But dogs and hogs are not the only
animals which take up their quarters
in this establishment. 1t would really
be impossible to name all the known
and unknown creatures which hav
passed through here. A bright-plumet
West Indian parrot hangs in the office
which was bought at IA recent auction
sale hy the owner of the stables, whC
took fancy for it while keeping it fo
Uncle Sam. Then there have beer
cats and sheep and white mice, ant
everything else imaginable in tn
quadruped line. But the palm wa
carried off some two years ago by
monkey, chattering, nervous, high
strung society lady of a monkey
whose hair was snow-white. Thi
popularity was not from old age
either. The Simian was young one
and the only one of its kind ever seer
here. 1t was claimed by its owner
who paid all the charges and bore he
away in triumph.
There is considerable inducemen
for people TO try to smuggle in ami
mails, for the import duty on them
never less than twenty per cent. a.
} valorem. The sailors are the creates
offenders in this respect, for they se
chance to have IA playmate durin
their long voyage, and, afterwar'
some profit from selling it. II is al
right as long as they stick to one, bu
; greed obscures their common sens
and they take several on board. Thei
plea of personal property" falls fla
with the Custom House officers and tn
J animals are carted away To the board
! ing g-house to he finally disposed of foI
/ the benefit of Uncle Sam.
2 The scene at the stables on an auC
+ tion day is an unique one. There
| always the crowd of hangers-On, VIII
: come to every sale simply because
has a sort of fascination for them
I Then there are the spectators VIII
7 make business Of buying and sellin
? animals. Last, but not least, are tn
o people who are interested in the AM
D mails about to be sold, generally thei
g former owners, who endeavor to az
- pear as unconcerned as possible. The
4 deceive no one but themselves, how
1 ever, and good deal of the roug
e humor of the auctioneer is directed {
Q them.
= The boarders most feared by the al
: tendants at the stables are the larg
. / nbatr ara tho hardaet niun nj