The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-11-05
CONTRACTORS WILL . BEGIN WORK TODAY ON ZOO BUILDINGS Believed Animals Will Be Ready for Exhibition by
 Next Sunday
PLAN IS DISCUSSED
 FOR RAISING FUNDS
President Frank Smith States He Would Like to Receive Small Monthly or Weekly Subscrip-
 tions From Everybody

The spirit of civic improvement is rife in Birmingham, for the zoo starts off this morning as a reality.
 At o'clock force of men under s. s. Still, the well known contractor, will be- gm work on the constructions for the zoo at Avondale park. He plans to have all the buildings in readiness for the ami malls as quickly as possible, and is of the opinion that the collection of animals of the Birmingham Railway, Light and Power company may be comfortably In- stalled hy next sunday. It is considered very certain that the lSiddies. both young and old may visit Avondale next Sun day and see for the first time in Bir- minsham the real beginning of a zoo.
 President Frank W. Smith of the Zoo logical association, John Lambert. secre- tary, and James Williamson. superin- tendent of parks. with MT. Still. the con tractor, visited Avondale yesterday and stalSed out the building sites. First there will be erected runs for the various ani- mals and every run will have a shed at the end for shelter. The sheds will be arranged so that the animals will be adequately protected from the weather.
 Donations Yesterday
 President smith received several dona- tions yesterday. They came quick and fast. Max J. Winkler, well known law yer of this city. promised a S10 bill. He said he would mail 1t and then said: "oh, give he blank check and l will give 1t to you now. No blank checks were available, so a bystander said he would advance Mir. Winkler the slO and it was passed over to President Smith. Contributions of money may be sent to Joe Saks, treasurer.
 Not only was s10 received yesterday, but 1000 feet of lumber was contributed by the Peerless Lumber company, while the Woodlawn Lumber company assured MT. Smith that the company would do It's full share for the zoo. The Moore &s Handley Co.,, contributed a large amount of wire for the runs and all the nails that will be needed in the construction. The Byrum- Butcher Hardware compan" contributed some wire fencing and oth- CT necessities of construction President Smith said yesterday that contributions to the constructions were coming in fine and that he was greatly pleased with the spirit of cooperation that was being shown the zoo promoters.
 Plan to Raise Funds
 It is desirable to have some funds on hand and the necessity of soliciting sub scriptions has never been discounted.
 There are large number of Birming- ham citizens who have worldly possessions above the average who. when the proper time comes, will make large contributions to the ZOO states MT. Smith. How over, the managers of the zoo feel that the entire burden of the financial part should not fall upon the commercial in- terests. Therefore. the plan has been suggested that small contributions. pay able by the week or the month or the year, be arranged for the man of small means who is in sympathy with the move ment and wishes to help"
 MT. Smith said he would be very much pleased to hear from 1000 men, boys girls or women of Birmingham who will contribute s1 per month or 25c per week for six or 12 months.
 The managers of the zoo movement have only a small amount or money, one contribution of animals, that of the Bir- mingham Railway, Light and Bower cont pany and the three mercantile appropria- tions above referred to. The plans that Mr Smith suggests above were discussed in various places yesterday and seemed to make very good impression. Presi- dent Smith says that he will confer with the other officials within a few days and issue a formal letter upon the suo- ject of finances for the zoo.