The Oakley herald. [volume] (Oakley, Idaho) 1908-1961, 1920-12-03
BY JOHN DICKINSON SHERMAN.

miles from the city hall 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
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 Was
ganized as a separate taxing body by the Illinois
legislature. The Cook county commissioners by
virtue of their Office Forest Preserve
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 J. Wilson, chair
man. William NJ. Maclean and George A. Miller
constitute this committee. The nub Of their
port to President Peter Reinberg and the COM
missioners lies in their suggested plan Of Or
ganization," 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 recogni the
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 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 a manner commensurate with its I'm
portance.
1.-THE authority of your board thus being lin
tied, assistance may be required In the event of a
more active or extended participation in the con-
duet 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 may be
counted upon to lend their support to any assist
ance the great project deserves"
Inasmuch as the building, installation and
maintenance of the zoo 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. #. Hornaday is director and gen.
eral curator. This famous contains 264 acres;
has $3.50 specimens of 998 species of mammals,
birds and reptiles, and attracts about 1,775OO0
visitors annually Its sources OF income are:
Q) From the Geological society, through SUBJ
scription from private citizens-funds for plans
for the erection Of buildings, aviaries, dens and
other Accommodations 1br animals and f. 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 Deem
Der 81, 1918, was 1885, divided into the following
classes: ,Benefactors. founders in perpetuity,
founders associate founders. patrons life mem
bers, annual members. fellows honorary members,
dollars, payable in advance and of annual men,
bers of all walks Of life there were 1S49. The
bylaws provide membership fees as follows, in
| addition to the annual class: Life, $500 patron.
$1,000; associate founder. $3.50; founder $4,000
founder In perpetuty, $4,000 benefactor $25 600.
Persons who have rendered marked service In the
science Of zoology may be elected honorary men,
| bers the nominations not exceeding three a year.
| The societys membership rolls contain the names
| of many New Workers OF wealth and national
prominence.
| AS Is the with other large geological in
| stitutions that in the Bronx has been favored In
the matter of accessions through gifts by friends
| of the society. 1t has been the practice of mem
bers of the New York society, when abroad to
keep a watchful eye after such specimens as
/ would be acceptable and ship them to New York
The endowment funds of~the society are nu
| merous and supply various needs. They include