Year: 1874

nc uenlocrdilc party -S not agreed on any
financial policy as yet, much less on one
which will stand the ordeal of public discus
sion.


Shall We Have Good Geological


Gardens


No feature of our great Central Park can be
made more interesting, instructive and useful
than a geological garden worthy of so magnif-
cent q pleasure ground. The Regents Park
in London and the Jardin des Plantes in
Paris completely meet these purposes, and
each is an example for us which should not be
disregarded. So far oil our attempts in the
same direction have been unworthy of this
metropolis. Many Of the travelling shows
carry with them better collection
of wild beasts than is found in our Central


Park menagerie, and yet the best of these


present only few ill-preserved specimens of
the commoner kinds Of animals. Many addi-
tons m ust be made to the present insufficient
collection, which we have dignified with the
name Of geological garden, before it will
even begin to be worthy of the city of New
York. And. besides, the present inadequate
and unsightly buildings must give place to
new, commodious and secure structure, in o
better locality, both as regards visitors to the
Park and citizens living in the neighborhood.
o nuisance to the people in that vi
cinity. While the animals are feeding
their unearthly noises can be heard for blocks
around. At all times there is feeling Of in
security, owing to the apparently unsafe con-
dition of the buildings in which the wild
beasts are housed. The menagerie should be
placed somewhere near the middle Of the Park
80 that the noises would not be heard in the
streets and houses on either side, and yet the
garden be easy of access to visitors. If this
change in location is made, suitable buildings
constructed and worthy collection Of ami
mails secured, we shall feel amply rewarded
for having called the attention Of the people
Of New York to this important subject of a
geological garden.


The first great obstacle in the way of secur-
des Plantes is the difficulty Of obtaining
sufficient funds from the Board Of Appor-
tionment. The appropriations which are
now allowed the Park Commissioners are
wholly inadequate to keep the works already
constructed in proper repair. improvements
OF any kind are absolutely out of the question.
Even the police force, according to the recent
report of Mr.. OlInsted to President
Stebbins, is insufficient to maintain order
and suppress immortality. Vicious per-
sons congregate in its most public re-
sorts and lurk in it's most retired nooks,
making it as dangerous. if not so appalling,
as if the whole herd of wild beasts was let
loose The Park cannot be properly main
tanned nor can geological garden worthy
of the city be provided without money
Our citizens are willing and even desir-
ous that the improvement shall go on,
and the Board of Appropriation is
making serious mistake in refusing
the funds asked for by the Commissioners
We reprint an article from the Evening Post
of yesterday, which shows some of the dangers
which are threatening our fine pleasure ground
because of this short-sighted policy. It is q
course to be deprecated both as regards the
Of preserving what has already been
and Of providing what is neces-
sary to the beauty and interest Of the Central
Park.


We can imagine how officers, who are re-
sponsible for the many expenditures necessary
for the city, might demur at the proposition
to provide the funds necessary to equip .
suitable geological garden in the Park. Yet
the money could not be more worfhily ex-
pended In Paris the Jardin des Plantes is
constantly receiving additions, and it is only
within a few weeks that the new reptile
house was opened. The building is spacious
and we'll aired, with tank for the crocodiles
and alligators, well-wired cages for the SER
pents and a neat glass case for the huge and
hairy spider, the bird-catching mygale of
Brazil. This change OF quarters Tor the rattle
snakes and the boas was matter Of great
interes, in the French capital, and so would
garden in this city. The botanical gardens
in all the principal capitals of Europe are
used as means of educating the children in
schools and students in colleges, and so our
Park might be made the geological centre Of
the United States. Professor Agassiz estab-
lished on the island which will always be
associated with his name a noble school for
the student Of icthyoiogy and geology, and
the metropolis of New York might well emu
late so illustrious an example 1t is matter
of the greatest importance and ought to re-
ceive immediate and general attention


The CoURT OF APPEALS has decided in
favor of the constitutionalty of the law famil-
iarly known as the New Police Justice law.
The decision confirms in Office the present
nolice inStices. annnintad In Nav 1Q7a hu