Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-06-21
ANIMALS AT THE zoo.
Larger and Better Houses Needed for
Them.

Them.
THE recent accident at the Zoo brings
up point or two regarding our pleasure
resort which is germane TO the occasion
remarked a gentleman interested In 20
ology and ORTHODOXY to a Star man today.
BE the merits of the accident they
may, two things have been long patent to
me, a regular visitor to the park and they
are, first, that the grounds surrounding the
animal and other attractions are naturally
and artificially beautiful, and compare with
the grounds OF any geological garden in
the country. For this the present manage
ment is entitled to and receives the praise
of all Washingtonians. Second, that the
houses and structures in which the animals
are kept are not in consonance with the
beauty of the grounds, and are for the most
part inadequate. and for this the present
management Is not responsible. but. il
seems to me, thought which has occurred
to me and many others interested in the
breathing spaces of the city might be util-
lied.
The Zoo VIII soon be in the very heart
Of Washington, SO rapidly is the city grow
ing, and il may be lkened unto Central
Park in New York, where. within the mem
DRY OF many young men of the present day,
that park was entirely surrounded by bar
rem blocks of rocks inhabited by goats.
Years ago, when the present animal house
IN our Zoo was designed, il may then have
seemed large and adequate. but il is now
much too small and has been so for several
years. | have visited most of the geological
gardens of the large cities of the world, and
on my first entrance into the animal build
ing at the Zoo in Washington | noticed its
initial circumscribed construction. The
ceilings are low, the ventilation not good,
and the atmosphere, especially in summer.
and at time when thousands visit the ami
mails on Sundays and holidays, is inclined
to be oppressive.
This is a condition which may be easily
remedied by raising the ceiling of the ami
NAL house at least ten feet. The bird and
monkey house adjoining is equally cramped
and clrcumscribed. The modern and APP
proved construction of buildings for the
housing of wild animals and birds in zoolog-
lcal gardens is not along these lines In
the famous zoo in London the animal
mouse is a large, airy structure, cool and
free from odor with the roof fully thirty
feet and, | believe even higher from the
floor. In Bronx Park. in New York they
are building the finest geological gardens
IN the world and they are models All are
not yet completed, but even the reptile
mouse has ceiling twice as high as that of
the animal house in the Zoo in this city
and the animal houses will be constructed
along similar liberal lines as to breathing
space, elbow room and ventilation.
of course, opinions differ, but those who
are interested in the future of the citv and
in the care and housing of wild animals in
captivity, are glad that The Star has called
attention to the circumscribed space in the
animal house in our own Zoo. 1t is. how
ever, not matter of opinion but one of
TACT, that our animal house is much TOO
cramped to accommodate the crowds of Wis
1tors who spend the afternoon in the park.
The cost would not be great In fact there
are several changes ne ssary in the build
lnSS TO bring them up to par with the
beautiful grounds with which they are sur
rounded.
furthermore each year the Zoo is be-
coming more of pleasure resort for the
people. If funds are short to carry out the
improvements suggested il would indeed
be an object lesson if the augmentation
committees of the House and Senate could
attend scnte pleasant Sunday afternoon
ana see BOW the citizens and children of
washington throng the grounds and View
the animals. But l venture to say that if
these gentlemen followed the crowds into
the animal house, when they emerged int q
the iresh air after inhaling the sitting. Of
fehslVe atmosphere, they would saw to a
man, W ell do not wish to go into the
amman mouse again until l get a chance TO
vote the necessary funds for its immediate
Improvement as regards ventilation and in
creased space I'M "
OF course, improvements cannot he made
without money, but now that this long
,hesiecteu out very important local matter
mas peen brought to the fore by the accident
in question, additional space NAV he nrovids
ca, ana the passagewayS used by the keen
ers roped off so that in the future the puh-
nc cannot unwittngly get within reach of
lhe claws of ore of the confined animals
- IL aPpaIeht even to the unobserving that
the roo1 OF the animal house is only a fau-
feet above the tops of the cages and r.
suHef1nS of the beasts in hot weather
SPEAKS louder than words leaving ont on.
IreIy the discontinue of the visitors who
may at VIII seek the fresh air outside