Weekly journal-miner., 1909-12-29
From Saturdav's Dailyl

(From Saturdays Daily)
 The Journal-Miner is authorized to announce this Christmas morning that F. M. Murphy will tender as a gift to the citizens of Prescott through its municipality, the "zoo" in West Prescott and the splendid domain of 200 acres connected with it, known as Murphy Park.
 MT. Murphy's generosity in public benefactions has been manifested on many occasions, but this munifcent gift is one without a parallel in Ari- zona. The only condition suggested is that the city in accepting the gift shall maintain the animal park which has always been the principal sight place of the city, and affords pleasure and entertainment for thousands of citizens and visitors, especially dur ing the summer and fall months.
 When the news of the prospective gift was communicated yesterday by Journal-NIiner representatives to May or Goldwater and his associates, all were agreeably surprised, and speak ing as individuals and not officially. they were unanimously in favor of accepting the same, and in expressing their praise of the donor. No city in Arizona has any public partk that can compare with this property either in extent or in natural beauty, and even the famous Golden Gate Park of San Francisco has little more acre age.
 Before leaving Prescott for New York a few days ago, F. NJ. Murphy signifed his willingness to donate to the city of Prescott the greater DOT ton of his addition in the western limits of the city, together with all improvements thereon, including the valuable collection of animals that comprises the popular zoo.
 Instructions were given his fnan- cial representative, A. W. Edwards, to this effect, and in a few days hence the donation will be formally placed before the city council for ac- ceptance or rejection. MT. Edwards believes that a fitting time for the formal tender to take place will be the first of the year 1910, by which time the city can legally assume rhe ownership of the tract to go and be- gin the new year in an interesting way so far as the expansion of the city is to be considered, and in acquir- ing a park of its own for the frsr time in the history of any Arizona municipal corporation.
 Maintenance Nominal Expense.
 The acceptance by the city is eOndi- toned on only one incidental matter, that of the maintenance of the zoo on its present standard of the collec ton of animals on hand. Figures as furnished by MT. Edwards in this respect show that including the care of the beasts by the resident keeper, and the food consumed, the total monthly expense will not reach over $75. This does not include, however, the erection of pens or other accom- modations that may be made from time to time whenever any cOntribu ton is added to the menagerie. Mir. Murphy has devoted much time and expense to that end of the park, and he desires, it is understood, to see the standard of the collection preserv- ed. He has also devoted thousands of dollars from his private funds toward paying for animals and building sub stantial enclosures that will last for generations.
 Vast Acreage Donated.
 Some conception of the magnitude of the acreage to be taken over by the city may be gleaned when it is known that over half a mile square