Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1907-08-17
THE NATIONAL zoo
INSTITUTION OF IMPORTANCE AT
THE CAPITAL.
Here Are Collected Fine Specimens
of Animals Gathered from All
Parts of the WorId-Place
Like Natural Park.

Not long ago Ras Makonnen, gov
ernor of Harrar province, Abyssinia |
after the manner of old-world poten-
tates, presented to the United States
a rare species of zebra With the |
zebra came the lion and later a pair
of ostriches was shipped from the
same source. From Sir Reginald
Wingate, the successor to Lord Kitch-
ener as encouragement of Soudan,
there has come another lion, and from
the governors of states in Brazil, such
as the governor of Para and the gov.
ernor of Amazonas, the United States
has accepted a number of South
American animals Within a fort
night, Mr.. Nelson of the department
of agriculture shipped to Washington
two Mexican tiger cats and a number
of rare forest birds, the gift of Carlos
FL. Jones of Campeche, Mexico
The international courtesies ex-
changed, it is not generally known
what becomes of these animals. The
future of many other beasts and birds
which in one way or another, through
consuls or department agents, come
into the possession of the United
States government is not usually fol-
lowed up. To whose charge are they
given, and now 90 IQGy pass The rest
of their lives?
Twenty years ago they would have
been turned over to some private me-
nagerie or housed in crude wooden
structures back of the Smithsonian
institution in Washington, where
biologists and biologists could study
them at close range. Perhaps the daily
sight of these temporary structures
had something to do with the purpose
the late DR.. s. o. Langley, secretary
of the institution, took steps to carry
out at that time to found on the out
skirts of Washington a national zoo
logical park.
1t WAS not an easy task to convince
legislators why they should pay to
have the Nebraska elk and Florida
alligators cooped up In 1890, how
ever, bill was finally passed through
congress to establish a geological park
for the advancement of science and
the instruction and recreation of the
people, and also as a haven of ref
uge where those native animals that
were threatened with extinction might
live and perpetuate their species in
peace"
The bill allotted 100000 for the
purchase of land and building. The
few animals Gagged back of the Smith
sonian institution were turned over to
new quarters, and the administration
of the national zoo became a branch
of the institutions work
Now 1877 acres of billy, woody land
two miles from the center of Wash
ington' is the final home of nearly
every beast that comes into the pos
session of the United States govern
ment- There is no law making it
the only depository for such gifts.
but as a matter of fact, very few are
sent elsewhere.
An idea of Secretary Langley, when
he founded the zoo, was to furnish
ly like their natural homes as pos
sibie. The idea was a new one at
the time. The few menageries in the
country had not the facilities to exc
cute any such plan. He opposed any
too evident artifciality in the archi
lecture of the grounds He wished
the national zoo to be a natural park
in every mode practicable. The large
acreage helped him in this course, for
our geological gardens are two and a
half times as large as the celebrated
Thiergarten at Berlin and four
times as large as the zoo in London
Since the national zoo was founded
over 1000 animals have been housed
here and during the last few years
the collection has averaged about
1900 birds and beasts at a time.