The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1897-07-13
RAISING WILD ANIMALS,
A TWO THOUSAND ACRE MENAC.
ERIE IN SOUTH FLORIDA.

An Immense Tract of Lard Divided on
Into Sections for the breeding of wild
Beasts for Exhibition and Commercial
Purposss-tu Interesting Experiment
Fatima, the female hippopotamus
SEM to Chicago from the Central Park
Zoo, is IL have q permanent home in
Southern Florida, where the breeding
OF wild animals foi exhibition and com.
merciat purposes is to be attempted OIL
a novel plan by the Ringing Brothsrs
OF circus fame. Two thousands acres
of land bordering on the st. Johns
River, In the everglades district. have
been secured by purchase aud lease.
and force of workmen will be sent
there in few days to prepare it for the
strangest use to which land has ever
been put i'll this country. The site Sc
lected lies in the tract north of Lake
Okeechobee, and between the Kissim-
mere and st. John rivers, many miles
from railway stations and settlements.
LIT is part of the primeval forests, as
wild and untouched by the hand of
man as 1t was thousands of years ago
Possession of comparatively few acres
of high, sandy soil just back OF the riv-
er gives control of practically limit
less expanse of heavily timbered
swamps and iungles, ir which it is pro-
posed to raise for the market such AMI
mails as lions, tigers, panthers, ele-
phants, hippopotami, tapirs, bears and
zebus, with ostriches aud huge snakes
of the python and similar species as a
side feature
Around the home ranch stout
blockade of heavy timbers is to be
erected, and from this will project in
ward formidable screen-work or
grating to prevent the clawed creatures
from climbing it. The interior of the
stockade will be sub divided into quar-
tiers for the animals, so arranged as to
give each colony wide range of ground
and free access to running water. with
out chance for escape. In one corner
OF the tract, where the land is high and
sandy, square of two hundred acres
Is to be reserved for houses for the
keepers and their aids and for barns
and stables.
William III. Winner, known IN circus
annals as n successful trainer and hand
Ter of wild animals, will be the director
and superintendent of the queer farm,
and he expects to pass the most of his
time there when not on the road with
the show. In the summer season Mr..
Winners brother will be in charge
Both of these men have studied the
matter closely, and are free with the
prediction that the scheme will be n
great financial and geological success.
Inc only thing approaching this ever
attempted In this country is ostrich
farming in Southern California, which
Tor some unknown reason is said to be
dying out. Ostriches seem unable to
survive the care given them at the
farms, and after eight or nine years of
captivity, even with n wide range of
country to roam over, pine away and
die. Thousands of dollars have been
lost In efforts to make n business of
raising the birds to secure q revenue
from the sale of their plumes. but they
are expected to thrive and become pro-
fitable under the changed conditions
which will be inaugurated at the South
crn Florida farm.
For number of years the Rinplinn
brothers have been experimentin9 in
the breeding of wild animals at Bara
boo, Wis, aud have been so success
ful that their travelling menagerie is
now kept supplied by drafts from the
home stock instead of by expensive
purchases from importers, rs is the
usual practice. These experiments
have hitherto been confined to the rails
ing of animals of the cat tribe-like
lions and tigers-and the purpose in
transferring the breeding plant to
Florida is to see what can be done with
pachyderms and all carnivorous and
herbivorous beasts. 1t is asserted
that the climate and surroundings in
the everglades country are similar TO
those OF the lands in which animals of
this kind have their natural habitat.
and that they can he placed there un-
der conditions which will leave them
largely free to live natural lives. Food
will be provided when necessary. and
watchful eye will be kept on them
but beyond this they will be left to
mate aud rear their young unmolested
The transfer of the animals will he
begun as soon rs the stockade and
OF the road season n number of beasts
now with the show will also be sent
there. w. j. Rouse, the press agent
for the Ringliugs, says the total cost
of the experiment, including the pur-
chase of land, building of fences and
shelters, and transportation of AMI
mails, will be about $4,000 One Of
the heaviest items of expense will be
the construction of n rough spur from
the nearest railroad, which is twenty
five miles from the farm. The coun-
try is level, however, and the railroad
company has agreed TO furnish ties
and rails for the branch free.
Old Badly, monster Asiatic ele-
phant, and couple OF COW pachy-
derms will constitute the first ship
ment. Following these Prince aud
Alice, the parents Of the young Nj
bian lions, Big Rose and George.
which, with an elephant, were traded
by the Ringlings for Fatima. will 90
10 Florida. When these are safely
placed the shipment OF Fatima and her
mate, Pete, gazellelike hippopotami of
several tons weight, and the most IN
wieldy and awkward things that move.
will ho attended 4,