Evening star., 1935-01-27
RECONSTRUCTION
WILL START SOON
New Buildings Will Cost
S680,O00-Fund Avail.
able Now.

The S68O,O0O of Public Works Ad-
ministration funds allotted to the Zoo
for new construction was turned over
to the Smithsonian Institution Fri
day and actual work on several build
ings and improvements will be started
within about five weeks, DR.. William
NJ. Mann. director, said yesterday.
The allotment, made by Public
Works Administrator Ickes January
16. to relieve crowded conditions in
the animal quarters and to COM
plete construction of the bird house,
will make possible the construction
of badly needed quarters and will
make the National Geological Park
one of the finest ZOOS in the world,
Dr.. Mann said.
Efforts are being made by DR.. Mann
to secure Federal emergency relief
funds to be used Immediately for
the digging of excavations and a
conduit to one of the new buildings.
An effort will be made to get this
work done before the actual building
operations start.
Wing for Bird House.
Included in the program, for which
DR.. Mann is furnishing data for
architectural drawings, is the con-
struction of a 37-foot wing across
the entire back of the bird house.
This building was constructed an
tipicating the new wing. which really
will amount to completing the build
ing rather than adding to it. Across
one end of this new wing will be con-
structed reproduction of an Antarc-
tic scene for the penguins and across
the other end a tropical scene will
be reproduced. Another interesting
feature of the bird house work will
be an aquarium for diving birds. to
show the actions of the birds while
under water. Dr. Mann said. Direct
lighting. similar to that of the reptile
mouse. Will be used in the bird house
The small mammal house, to shell
ter the great apes and miscellaneous
mammals, which long has been sought
by the director. is considered one OF
the most important additions to the
ZOO DR. Mann said an attempt would
be made to simulate moonlight in
the small mammal house so that
visitors to the Zoo will be able to
see the nocturnal animals as they
are IN their native hauntS,
The hlppopotamus and rhinoceros
that have been cramped in inadequate
quarters since their arrival at the Zoo
Will occupy a new and greatly i'm
proved home in the new pachydern
building. Babe, Jumbina and Kechil
the Zoo elephants, also will occupy
this building. Outstanding features
OF the pachyderm building will be a
large pool, where the hippopotamus
and rhinoceros can swim, surrounded
by a semi-jungle scene, and a recrea.
ton yard for the elephants. The tapil
also will be housed in this building
as will several other animals, includ-
ing giraffe.
Included in the building program is
machine shop, garage and centra
heating plant building
DR.. Mann said the animal collection
in the Zoo is one of the finest any,
where and that modern buildings, with
the proper scenic effects, will make il
second to none in interest to visitors
1t is expected that the work will be
completed and the Zoo presented in a
new and more interesting light by the
Spring Of 1886, DR.. Mann said.
Long Range Program.
No restrictions are placed on the
expenditure of the fund by Dr. Mann
the one stipulation being that the
money be spent only for new construc-
ton. The S68O,OOO represents almost
the entire emount asked by DR.. Mann
for a long-range building program
The building program is the largest
ever undertaken and is the first con-
struction since the erection of the
bird and snake houses.
DR.. Mann said he would confer
with the architect for the project as
soon as one had been appointed and
that the first work on the bird house
addition should be under way by
March l.
Although the matter has not been
definitely settled, it is thought that
all the new buildings, with the eXcep-
ton of the bird house wing. will be
constructed of stone. The bird house
is of red brick.
The Zoo population is now 2,400, in
cluding all types and species, but prob
ably will be added to witt the COM
pletion of the building program.