The Richmond palladium and sun-telegram. [volume] (Richmond, Ind.) 1907-1939, 1911-06-18
Zoo Collection, a Splendid
Attraction, Started Several
Years Ago, Not Given
Proper Attention.
MUD FILLS THE LAKE
Park Could Almost Be Made
Self-sustaining if Managed
Properly No Amuse-
ments Are Provided.

Glen Miller. the most beautiful ma.
tural park in the middle west. and one
OF the largest. Is being neglected by
city officials, it is alleged, because OF
lack OF funds. and indifference. until
now, according to park officials, the
boat house. pavilion, animal cages,
green houses, the homes of the super.
intendent. gardner and teamster. are
almost ready to tumble into ruins.
The lake is filled with mud, and in
many places is less than four feet
deep.
There are no more animals today In
the ZOO" than ther were three years
ago, when the monkeys were purchas-
ed. When there are increases In the
elk and deer herds, instead OF trading
the superflous animals for other var
ieties, it has been the custom to sell
them to saloons, to be eaten on Christ
mas. New Years eve and other holi.
days, as free lunch" The animals
have always been popular at the park.
and 1t is thought that they should be
added to rather than decreased There
is growing demand for better ZOO
and an appropriation in next years
budget for this purpose would be pop
ular.
The animal cages, except the con-
crete bear pit, which cost the city 5000
are in q delapidated condition.
The floors are rotting out, the roofs
are leaking, and the odor that arises
from some of them on hot days drives
the amusement seekers to the back
part of the park In disgust. It is
claimed that It Is impossible to keep
the stencil down. with the cages in
their present condition. The bear Dit,
built OF concrete and steel. is one or
the best in the state but it is the row
of cages, just south OF the bear pit
that is causing the trouble. They have
stood for years.
The receipts OF the park superinten.
dent in the year run from $500 to
$1,000. The park has only few
sources of revenue and few amuse.
ments. The expense of the Glen av.
erages $1,000 year, sum nearly 40
great as is required to maintain the
big municipal amusement park at La.
ming pool. a big zoo. a public play
grounds for children, tennis courts
and golf links. The Local parks has
none OF these attractions. There Is .
pavilion, at which one may purchase
peanuts and popcorn, or a dish OF Ice
cream. Besides the zoo the only
amusement is boating. the boats being
owned by the holder of the pavilion
lease, Charles Fetzer. The city fur
nishes nothing in the way of amuse-
ments at the uark. excepting the
small but very popular zoo.
The Lafayette park. now termed
one OF the most beautiful In the west
for the size, was built from "an old
tract Of A. acres Of muddy land"
Glen Miller was plotted from one
of the most beautiful groves In the
country. and takes IN more than 170
acres. Naturally the park is unsur-
passed, but aside from the work Of
nature. and some hard labor by Super.
intendent Hollern. who is undoubted.
| ~ doing his best with the money at
hand, 5000 appropriated last year.
there is not much doing in Glen Nil
Ter.
At the Lafayette park the city pro-
| vides two band concerts week. For.
| merly this city had municipal band
concerts at the park once week. buo
this very attractive feature was aban.
doned on the grounds it was too en-
pensive."
Superintendent Hollern announced
yesterday that he would ask for q
large appropriation to deepen the
lake This viii probably be done
SOON He says ther are about 200
loads OF dirt in the basin OF the pond
that must be removed. The cost Of
rebuilding the animal cages would be
about $1,000.
The suggestion that pony carts be
purchased. to bc rented for use In
the park. has been made number Of
times by Superintendent Hollern, but
he says the board never took favora~
BILE action on It HolIern believes the
ponies and carts would net betwe6n
$500 and $500 every year TO the city.
Besides this there are other sources
| Of revenue such a. the city owning