New-York tribune., 1896-12-06

WILLIAM T. HORNADAY
proved rough land part meadow and part covered
,,f.h timber through which the Bronx River flows
O,hcr parks within the area from which the Sink
ing Fund Commissioner are empowered to grant
and for such a park possessed o; greater land
scapc beauties and other parts Of Bronx Park
Itself are moro beautiful look upon. but the por-
ton applied for is the only site that I'm the opinion
Of experts IA an ideal one for the home OF animals
OF all sorts and conditions The tract referred 10 IN
cludos Ill that part Of Bronx Park that Hes sout1
OF Pciha m-ave. about POI acres in extent. Bronx
Park as a whole containing about go acres.
TREES WILL BE RESPECTED.
One important reason for the choice of Bronx
Park IS the fact that it contains several areas in
which the necessary buildings can be erected with
out cutting any trees at all Indeed the Geological
Society In its application TO the Commissioner''
puts Itself on record against the cutting OF any of
the living trcos or shrubberr within the area ap-
plicd for 1t furthermore offers and agrees to sub
nit It's plans'for the approval OF the PARK COM
rnissioncrs before proceeding with the work TO be
done in developing the site. Furthermore the So
cc,y's application says: South Bronx Park is now
asked for because 1t Is pre-eminently the place
wherein q scmblance OF the natural haunts OF Wild
animals can be secured by the adaptation OF na;-
ure's handwork. rather than by the slow. costly
and not always satisfactory processes OF artificial
creation 1t Is also asked for because 1t is possible
spacious and attractive character"
But there are many natural dv,ntages in South
Bronx Park for the visitors. well as for Its an
NAL tenants. Its natural features are not so rough
as to make 1T difficult to walk all over 1t; 1t has
shade OF the abundant ye, open character most de-
sired for public resorts and It has four natural
basins In which little lakes Of much beauty and
service can easily be constructed Its accessible
ity s the least of the features that make 1t so
desirable. Two lines Of trooy-cars now come from
Onc-hundrcd- nd-twenty- y-ninth-st. and Third-ave
up to West Farms within about 100 feet OF
on, entrance TO the park and in case the plans are
carried these will doubtless be extended for the
rest Of the distance The Third-ave. elevated
trains now far as Tremont-avc. n point
something more than mile from what Is planned
be the main entrance to the park. but The open
ing OF the park would doubtless spur OF the
elevated road directly TO the entrance The
roads always anxious To carry people where
they wish to go As said in Mondays Tribune. IT
would then be possible to reach this great pleas
ure- ground from the city Hall In about sixty
minutes and for the single fare OF ) cents As
matters stand now one can leave the city Hall
oclock Of an afternoon and be within the park
by 3i5.
BUILDINGS NEEDED.
Tho manner OF maintenance which it is proposed
to adopt for the geological park deserves passing
notice. In the first place the Geological Society
promises. IN 1t gets the land IT desires. TO
equip the ground with buildings. TO prepare them
and the Du. door Enclosures for the reception OF
the animals and TO buy tie initial stock OF animals
themselves All this IT Is estimated. be accom-
plished for the OF S2jOeoo. and this sum the
society Is ready to bind Itself to raise. The build
ings and what labor Is necessary to it the grounds
for their tenants Will cost about 100000. and the
animals themselves $4,000. The buildings deemed
necessary at the first are these. Lion house. mon
key house. tropica, ruminants' house. elephant
house. reptile house. small mammals house and
bird house. Besides these there would be- needful
small houses for the deer and buffalo and other
species that require a little shelter during the COLI
winters hut which will live of doors the rest OF
the year. each species having a house of it's own.
All these buildings the society will erect. the city
being then called upon to pay the running expenses
Of the park as. for example. the food OF the ami
mails. the salaries OF the attendants and such other
expenses as may be necessary TO keep the build
The excellence of the site pitched upon by the
the land already selected for the New-lork Boan-
Teal Garden Of which Professor g Nathaniel F. hrit
tho flowers will be made easy. and the whole COM
y r % hs OF h sk
Fund Commissioners pay particular attention to
pleasing the of the landscape gardener.
coupled with the great natural advantages of the
plenty of trees In southern Bronx Park which are
admirably alternated with stretches OF open coun-
houses t., be built viii ali be Of tasteful consrnc
tion and they Will be placed that none OF them
will be visible from the outside Of the park In
fact Il IS planned to allow the park to retain en-
trey the delightfully."- countrywide appearance that
II possesses.
Tnsdc the circle OF trees that will hide the animal
houses from the passer-by great care will be taken
to make all the artificial constructions as tasteful
as possible. Mr.. Iornaday is designing a fence
that he thinks IL hn Improvement upon the heavy
iron bars that now dsfigure many of the out of
door Enclosures In uenagerlcs Ii Will bc made OF
fine steel wire, strong that comparatively few
strands will be needed thin that will be easy
through 1t. and SO low that 1t will be possible
to look over II.
INCOME FROM CONCESSIONS.
In case the scheme Is put into execution the PARK
Will undoubtedly become popular a resort that
certain convonlences for the OF the pubic. such
as restaurants for example, will become
sity. These privileges. for such they would be.
might easily become a source OF revenue which the
society would In every eXpend in improving
and extending the collection OF animals IN pro-
vidlng still better accommodations fer them In
addition to this. some revenue could and would be
raised from the sale OF animals born In the park
and which were not desired for purposes OF exhibit
ton.
The people who live In that part OF the city near
est Bronx Park extremely desirous that the
Geological Society shall have every facility for car
rying on Its plans. As long as last July, soon