The Birmingham age-herald., 1904-04-27

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 "The Herald, New York.
 Birmingham boys and girls, several thousand strong, raising fund to purchase elephant and other animals to establish geological garden here.
 Committee of 8 boys going to New York June 1 to buy elephant. Please ad- wise from whom elephant can be pur- chased or publish story asking that bids be sent for furnishing suitable medium size elephant camel and other animals to sam Cabaugh, president Children's Geological Garden association, Birming- ham. Ala.
 Your attention to this matter will be appreciated by
 "E. W. BARRETT,
 Editor Age-Herald."
 New York herald Will Help.
 The Herald replied as follows:
 New York, April 20, 1904 MT Barrett, Age-Herald, Birmingham, Ala:
 Send us nice little story about boys who want to buy elephant and we will print 1t and interview elephant dealers.
 NEW YORK HERALD" At the request of the Herald ths fol- lowing special telegram was sent and will appear in today's Issues of that paper:
 special sent to Herald. Herald New York:
 ''The boys and girls of Birmingham yesterday perfected an organization to establish a geological garden here which they propose the city shall maintain in one of the parks after the boys and girls have furnished the animals. Already a fund has been started for the purchase of an elephant. A committee of three boys is to be selected to go to New York and buy the elephant. which Is to be the nucleus around which the zoo Is to be built Hundreds of boys and girls are out today collecting subscriptions. For each ten cents subscribed, the subscriber or collector Is entitled to one vote in naming the committee to go to New York to select and buy the elephant. The full expenses of the boys are to be paid by The AgeHerald and prominent cit- izen of Birmingham Is to go along as advisor.
 "The boys started the movement yes terday by organizing the Childrens Geological Garden association. It's off cers are Sam Clabaugh, president; Joe Mudd, vice e-president; James Gillespie. secretary; Robert Badham, treasurer. There is also a board of twelve directors, all composed of boys under 16 years of age.
 "The committee proposes to go to New York about the first of June to purchase the elephant, and if they have sufficient funds they will buy a camel, lions, tigers, bears and other animals.
 "There is a great contest among the boys and girls over choosing the commit tee to go to New York, and lt Is probable that large sum will be raised. While 1t is expected that the city government will maintain the ZOO, the title to the an- it,,a Io will al In ba ha nd Of bo boys and girls association.
 (Signed) "E. w. BARRETT"
 Boys Are Determined.
 The boys are certainly determined on establishing the ZOO, and scores of them were out yesterday soliciting subscrip- tions from citizens. One little fellow came into The Age-Herald office yester- day afternoon and showed a subscription list amounting to nearly SIS.
 Receipts were printed yesterday and will be ready to hand over to Fiscal Agent ". W. Crawford of the First Ma tional bank today Tbese were contrib uted free by the printing firm of F. J. Black & Sons. MT. Black said that he was heartily in favor of the movement and would not charge the boys anything for printing. The committee thanked Mir Black and gave him the form for receipt which will be sent to the bank today.
 It has been decided that Treasurer Rob- ert Badham will be at the First Ma tional bank every Saturday afternoon at o'clock to receive subscriptions and turn them over to the fiscal agent, who will issue receipts. As the front doors of the bank will be closed at that time the boys will have to go to the side en- trance which opens into the main corri- dor of the building.
 Will Appear Before Council.
 A committee of the boys, headed by President Clabaugh, will appear before the mayor and aldermen at the meeting one week from today and present a reso- lution providing for the city to maintain the zoo. These boys as well as their friends among the prominent citizens will address the board and they expect to have the resolution adopted. The boys propose to let no obstacle stand in the way of the success of their movement and will bring strong pressure to bear on the mayor and aldermen to help them in the establishment of a zoo.
 The contest between the little fellows for a place on the committee that will go to New York Is spirited. They were at work all day yesterday securing money, and it is expected that by Saturday af- ternoon when they deposit their funds the sum will have gone over the $200 mark.
 There was considerable speculation among the youngsters yesterday as to the price of an elephant. and efforts were made to ascertain the desired informa- ton. This was partly responsible for the message being sent to the New York Herald.
 Will Cost About 5000.
 A gentleman connected with the carni- val company which opens an attraction next week said last night that an ordinary sized elephant would cost from 5000 to s2500. This price is for female elephants. The females are said to be the only ele- plants that gre absolutely docile and are safe around children. Female elephants have never been known to be unrulv