The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1898-09-24

The Novel Project OF the RINGING
Brothers, Circus Men.


An Immense 10C100nfO In S0uthO1M CALI
fornia Whore Lions, Panthers, Ele-
plants, Etc. VIII BE Raised
ON Large Scale. 81
A novel scheme for raising and per-
petuating rare varieties of wild ami
mails is the latest geological idea of
Ringing Bros.
A special agent of the company is
now negotiating for tract of land at
Long Beach, near San Pedro bay, south
ern California, for the purpose, while
Messrs. DIR. Rupert Hoffman and Oscar
Newman, who recently started on q
tour around the world to secure wild
beasts for the menagerie and geological
exhibits, will make special efforts to
collect some very perfect and healthy
specimens of forest-reared animals for
breeding purposes. It is proposed to
secure four or five square miles of the
most thickly-wooded land in the vi
cinity mentioned. The land desired j..
to embrace swamp, timber and rocky
sections and will be inclosed by solid
brick wall.
This wall will be two feet. in height
and will rest upon q firm foundation
Of stone masonry, implanted several
feet in the earth. From the top of the
brick wall up to a distance of about IL
feet fence will be erected of half-inch
pieces of iron, six inches apart In the
main the land will be left in it's natural
state, but caves made as nearly as pos
sible to initiate nature will be dug and
formed of rocks, and it is expected
that the animals will make their homes
il these. The idea of Ringling Bros.
is to turn the animals into this in
closure and let them follow their nat
ural inclinations and habits as much
as possible. AS the animals to be prop
agated are principally of the carniv-
orous kind, such animals as they nat
urally prey upon will be supplied as
food. If, of course, at any time the num-
Der of antelope and other herbivorous
animals which are to furnish food for
the lions, tigers, hyenas, leopards, pan
theirs and other carnivora is depleted.
domestic animals, such as sheep and
goats, will be placed within the in
closure, to be hunted by the denizens Of
this peculiar jungle.
A considerable portion of this ex-
tensive establishment will be separated
from the rest by secure partitions for
raising the delicate giraffe, camels,
zebras, quaggas and other herbivorous
families of the animal kingdom. In
order that fresh water may be always
ON hand, pipes will be laid under
ground, ending in fountains in the in
closure, and fed from spring water
pumped in from the outside. It is pro-
posed to lay a concrete walk just out
side and extending around the entire
| wall, and watchman, perhaps on a
bicycle, will make tour Of inspection
of the entire inclosure twice each day.
The idea, if success, will probably re-
suit in preserving certain animals, such
as the giraffe, from becoming entirely
extinct.
Elephants will also be raised within
the inclosure. On account Of their
great strength it was at first thought
that an elephant inclosure would be
impracticable, but scheme has been
devised which it is believed will pre-
vent them from breaking down the
walls. Forty feet Within the outside
wall will be erected second fence COM
posed and built of logs driven into the
ground by means of a pile driver.
These timbers will be about three feet
apart and will be cross-braced by row
of timbers bolted on the upright logs
toward the outside and braced with
timbers extending from the cross
braces to the ground. This will make a
very strong shield against which the
assaults of large and vicious elephant
will have no effect.
The cost of such an inclosure will not
be SO great as one would at first think.
as the material used is very plentiful
in that section OF southern California
selected for this purpose. The elephant
inclosure is located so far from the
outer wall in order that no tiger, lion or
other animal of the cat family could
leap from it to the top of the iron graf.
ing and thus gain access to the out
side world. Certain grasses and herbs
indigenous to the countries from which
the animals are to be brought will be
planted in order that the animals may
have as nearly as possible their native
foods
One of the most interesting features
of the jungle will be the monkey farm.
For this purpose several acres will be
used. a wooden frame will be erected
extending above the height of the trees
and completely surrounding the farm.
This framework will be covered with
network of wire, so that the monkeys
will be at liberty to climb about the
trees end feed on the fruits and nuts,
but will be unable to escape.
The idea in its entirety embraces the
scheme of propagating the animals by
giving them the natural advantages of
a Jungle, leaving them to follow their
natural habits, but keeping them with
in, the incloeure, SO that they can be
trapped when wanted for exhibition
purposes Chicago News.
Bicycle Ostrich Race.
A queer race was run in South Africa
a few weeks ago. For some time the
question of the speed of an ostrich has