The Idaho Springs siftings-news., 1920-11-26

VEEl mated by Mrs. Harold E. McCor-
~ mick of Chicago This site is three
Nv miles west of the city line and IA
miles from the city hail. The fea-
ture Of the zoo, aside from its size and compre-
hensiveness will be the exhibition of Its animals
under the natural conditions system.
Chicago Geological Gardens Is its name but
its ownership and management-at least at first
will be sort Of composite affair. There Is to be
a Chicago Geological Gardens society made
up Of Chicago citizens. Mrs. Mccormick
gave the land to the Forest Preserves of Cook
county. These owned by the people in per-
petuity and are controlled by the Forest Preserve
district of Cook county. This district
ganized as a separate taxing body by the Illinois
legislature. The Cook county commissioners by
virtue Of their office are Forest Preserve com
missioners. 1t appears. however. that these For
est Preserve commissioners are without legal
warrant directly to underwrite the enterprise.
The public will therefore have to furnish the
sinews Of war, for while at least.
In these circumstances the Forest Preserve
commissioners appointed committee to visit the
Zoos Of the United States and get helpful infor-
nation. Commissioners Frank ]. Wilson, chair
mani William NJ Maclean and George A. Miller
constitute this committee The nub of their re-
port to President Peter Reinberg and the COM
missloners lies In their suggested plan of or
ganixation," as follows:
.In view of the program adopted by various
geological enterprises, domestic and foreign 1t is
the opinion Of your committee that the honorable
president of this board further recognize the
great generosity Of Mrs. Mccormick by inviting
the cooperation Of body of representative citI-
zens Of Cook county, men and women and through
them. organize the Chicago Geological Gardens
society As the commissioners of the Forest
Preserve district are without legal warrant to
directly undertake the work of underwriting the
enterprise. 1t would become the direct business
OF the society to take formal action with refer
ence to financing. installing and maintaining the
same In manner commensurate with Its I'm
portance.
'The authority of your board thus being linn
lted, assistance may be required In the event of a
more active extended participation In the con-
duct Of the gardens. This authority necessarily
must be procured through legislative enactment
and the promotion Of this may be safely left In
the hands Of the influential body Of men compris-
ing the corporate membership of the proposed
society. In this connection it is obvious that the
people OF the entire state of Illinois NAV be
counted upon to lend their support to any assist
ance the great project deserves"
lnasmuch as the building, installation and
maintenance of the will depend upon sources
Of income outside the Jurisdiction Of the Forest
Preserve district 1t is Instructive to note how
the various zoos Of the country are financed
Take the New York zoo for example. 1t Is con-
Quoted by the New York Geological society, Of
which DR.. W. T. Hornaday is director and gen.
eral curator. This famous contains 284 acres !;
has 3,45O specimens Of 99S species Of mammals,
birds and reptiles, and attracts about 1,775,OOO
visitors annually. Its sources Of income are:
t1) From the Geological society, through SUBJ
scrptton from private citizens-funds for plans
for the erection Of buildings. aviaries dens and
other Accommodations for animals and fer the pur-
chase Of animals.
(2) From the city Of New York certain funds
for the construction Of walks. roads, sewers and
drainage, water supply. public comfort buildings
entrances, grading excavating of large ponds and
lakes annual maintenance and also for animal
buildings
The membership of he society, as Of Decem
her 81. 1918, 2.286 divided into the following
classes: Benefactors, founders in perpetuity
founders, associate founders. patrons. life mem
bers, annual members, fellows, honorary members
corresponding members. Annual dues are ter
dollars, payable In advance and Of annual mem
bers Of all walks Of life there were 1849. TIL,
bylaws provide membership fees as follows, Ii
addition to the annual class: Life $500: patron
k1,OOO; associate founder $3.50; founder $1,000
FOUNDER In perpetuity $4,000; benefactor, $25O0O
Persons who have rendered marked service in tn,
science Of zoology may be elected honorary mem
bers the nominations not exceeding three year
The society's membership rolls contain the name
of many New Yorkers of wealth and nationa
prominence.
As is the case with other large geological in
etftutfons that in the Bronx has been favored Ii
the matter of accessions through gifts by friend
of the society. 1t has been the practice of mem
bers Of the New York society, when abroad. t,
keep a watchful eye after such specimens a
would be acceptable and ship them to New York
The endowment funds Of the society nj
merous and supply various needs They includ