The sun., 1897-11-16
PLANSFOR THE BRONX zoo.
WHERE THE BUILDINGS, DENs AND
ENCLOSURES WILL DE.

The final plan for the Geological Carbon, for
which the Sinking Fund Commission has cot
aside 26l acres of ground In Bronx Park, was
presentedsto the Park Board for approval yes
terday by Prof Henry f. Osborn, Chairman OF
tho Executive Committee of tho New York
geological Society The plans presented en-
brace the tlnalsplan OF tho Geological Park,
showing tho location of buildings, ranges dens,
and other enclosures for animals; its lakes and
ponds, entrances, walks, roads, and pleasure
grounds; colorcd brdseyc.view-o of the Io0log-
ical Park us 1T will appear when its develop
mcnt is complete; map showing how 1t is pos
sible TO Introduce horscleSs carriage service
over narrow roadway without dctriment to
! the park; preliminary plans for nine OF tho
most Important buildings, and q map showing
the contour lines Of the Typographical survey OF
| the western portion of the park, made by VIII
| liam IL. Grant in 1873 for the Department OF
! Parks.
| Besides these tho society offered to place Its
| Typographical model OF tho Geological Park at
tho disposal Of tho board. The following let
ter. which was signed by Lcvi p. Morton, Pres
ident Of tho society, and Prof. Osborn accom-
| panied the plans:
I'm submitting these plans tho society do
sres to state for tho information of tho board
That neither time, labor, nor expense has been
/ spared in tho effort put forth to make them
as nearly perfect as human skill and knowledge
can make them at this time. In addition to the
knowledge and advice obtained in tho best
geological gardens Of Europe the geological de-
velopment of the park has received the benefit
| of advice and criticism from no fewer than six
SxpsFt zoo0giSts covering ling Rraeeny all the
| ideal geological park In this latitude. !" -
in the consideration of tho final plan Of the
vital importance and which should constantly
be borne in mind. It is as follows: The
| the utilization OF tho natural features Of the
| ground such as shelter, shade, sunlight, water,
the living, creatures that must be furnished with
hS tSo excep
| tion of the central glade occupied by six I'M
| 3ortant buildings thclanimal area of tho ZoDlog
cal Park has been laid out with strict refer
encc to the wants of the animals, and the finest
public exhibition. Following this, the next
| highest aim has been to make all of the animal
collections, and also all other portions Of the
park, easily and comfortably accessible TO the
BFToaadS % TRsrs ao e
frances and tho walks vary in wild b from
eight to twenty y feet according to location; l., AZ At
park has received careful and thorough con-
'in conclusion the Geological Society desires
TO state that during the past fifteen months II
has done not only everything thai has occurred
suggested from without. to prepare and submit
| plans as perfect and details as complete as
they can be made prior, to the preparation OF Of
necessary for the actual work Of construction.
1t is manifcstly lncXpedicnt for, details to be
carried further until the general plan.of develop
ment receives the approval Of the Board oil Park
Commissioners"
The fundamental principles observed by the
society in the plenning and development OF
the garden are stated as follows: ,r..,
The Biological Park must be esta blished on
lines by which it cum be made complete
zo5iogical success and also satisfactory and
beneficial t to the public The bvey Sagabs
as a site must not be injured in any way. either
RSrmahnently nc or or temporariyi but must at all
.The public is entitled to the use of the pic
turesaue area along the Bronx River, below the
which shall bo Kept Kept p open ni at ali Zines. subjosi
to suitable regulations. On that area no ami
Even Of the area deS W oted to animal collections
the choice landscapes are to be preserved Hn
M he
In selecting suitable locations for the nu
merous COLLECTIONS Of creatures that will b'
round it is Of that ;pSt
are available in the nature OF shade, shelter
from westerly winds, dry. situations, &c. r
Bile. So far as It be possible. it is extremely
desirable that all animals living in the open
ings will suggest even IL not closely resemble
their natural haunts The fences tor large ami
mails in open ranges shall be of the lIghtcst de
scripton consistent with tho proper conline
ment of the animals. and all posts used shall
be as unob,rusive as possible. =,
wildness which now characterizes South
Bronx Park must be maintained: In other
maintained us IL well. kept and accessible nat
ural wilderness rather than as conventions
city park IL Is totally ineXpedicnt and unde
sirlble to have the area of the animals biscctcd
| IN either direction by "A carriage roadway, Other
than that projected to lead to the principal res
taurant
a single-track road for horseless carriages
80 laid out as TO reach tho principal buildings
and collections, but without interfering with
pedestrians, is not Objectionable, and will prob
ably become necessary; In order to protect
the animals, west OF tho Boston road. must be
entirely surrounded by light wire fence, save
on the north side. where tho water forms nat
The final consideration of the plans was do
feEred until next Monday,
Scott all the bids for the erection OF the Muse
um and power house Of the botanical Gardens
Leary was instructed TO readvertsc the con
tract tract a This action was taken because Of tech
pany, which was the lowest OF all the tenders
pi, pans for for the now bridge across the Harlem
scntcd, and a number Of REPRESENTATIVE ''o Of
property owners associations of the Twenty
third ward urged the board to adopt them a
once, as they had been approved by the Secre
tary OF War; Owing TO the fact that the spcci
fcations were no! completed, the final con
week. Tho bridge, viii cost 81 800, 900. and a
fine water color drawing Of it now hangs il
tho meeting room OF the Park Board.
Recently the attention of Superintendent
B an of the Aquarium was called by Commits
sioner Mitchell TO tho provision of the law re
quiring that the building be kept open to til,
public every day In the week. Mr.. Bean mad,
report yesterday in which he said that whil,
| he could not indorSe the wisdom of that part o
the law, still, the provision was plain, and al
effort should bc made to live up to it. Accord
| ingly he recommended that theAquariumlbe KEEP
open from noon until o'clock on Mondays anC
Tuesdays and from 10 o'clock in the morning
until o clock in the afternoon on oil other day
The matter was referred to the Downtown
| Committee,