Popular Official Guide to the New York Zoological Park 3

Popular Official Guide to the New York Zoological Park 3

January, 1915.

 

Final plan of the Zoological Park approved by Park Board, November

22, 1897.

Zoological Society assumed control of grounds, July 1, 1898.

First building begun, August 11, 1898.

Park formally opened to the public, November 9, 1899.

Administration and Service Buildings 2

Large Animal Buildings (all heated) 14

Small Animal Buildings (4 heated) 10

Large Groups of Outdoor Dens, Aviaries and Corrals 13

Animal Storehouses, for winter use 3

Restaurants 2

Public-Comfort Buildings 6

Entrances 7

Area of Park Land and Water 264 acres

Area of Water 30 acres

Walks and Roads 7.78 miles

Fences 10.55 miles

 

LIVE ANIMALS IN THE COLLECTIONS.

January, 1915.

 

Mammals 204 species, 586 specimens.

Birds 811 “ 2,753 “

Reptiles 164 “ 1,014 “

Total 1,179 4,353

 

Attendance of visitors in 1914 2,020,433

Total attendance of visitors from 1899 to Jan., 1915 19,325,590

 

 

 

 

NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY

 

 

_President_,

HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN.

 

MADISON GRANT, _Secretary_, 11 Wall Street.

PERCY R. PYNE, _Treasurer_, 30 Pine Street.

 

Executive Committee

MADISON GRANT, _Chairman_.

PERCY R. PYNE,

WATSON B. DICKERMAN,

SAMUEL THORNE,

WM. PIERSON HAMILTON,

WILLIAM WHITE NILES,

FRANK K. STURGIS,

LISPENARD STEWART,

HENRY FAIRFIELD OSBORN, _ex-officio_.

 

General Officers

WILLIAM T. HORNADAY, _Director_

H. J. SHORTER _Assistant Secretary_

R. L. CERERO _Assistant to Treasurer_

DR. GEORGE S. HUNTINGTON _Prosector_

C. GRANT LA FARGE _Architect_

H. DeB. PARSONS _Consulting Engineer_

Officers of the Zoological Park.

WILLIAM T. HORNADAY, Sc.D.

_Director and General Curator._

H. R. MITCHELL _Chief Clerk and Disbursing Officer_

R. L. DITMARS _Curator of Reptiles, Asst. Curator

of Mammals_

C. WILLIAM BEEBE _Curator of Birds_

LEE S. CRANDALL _Assistant Curator of Birds_

W. REID BLAIR, D.V.S. _Veterinarian_

H. W. MERKEL _Chief Forester and Constructor_

ELWIN R. SANBORN _Editor and Photographer_

GEORGE M. BEERBOWER _Civil Engineer_

WILLIAM MITCHELL _Cashier_

 

[Illustration: ITALIAN GARDEN, BAIRD COURT,

The structure on the right is the Large Bird-House, and in the

distance, the Lion House.]

 

 

 

 

GENERAL STATUS

OF THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK.

 

 

Origin.—The New York Zoological Park originated with the New York

Zoological Society, a scientific body incorporated in 1895, under a

special charter granted by the Legislature of the State of New York. The

declared objects of the Society are three in number—“A public Zoological

Park; the preservation of our native animals; the promotion of zoology.”

The Society has enrolled among its various classes over 2,000 members.

 

Henry Fairfield Osborn is the President of the Society. The affairs of

the Society are managed by a Board of Managers of thirty-six persons,

which meets three times each year. The planning and general development

of the Zoological Society is in the hands of an Executive Committee of

eight members, as follows: Madison Grant, Chairman; Percy R. Pyne,

Samuel Thorne, William White Niles, Watson B. Dickerman, Wm. Pierson

Hamilton, Frank K. Sturgis, Lispenard Stewart and Henry Fairfield

Osborn, _ex-officio_. Madison Grant, the Chairman of the Executive

Committee, is also Secretary of the Society, and his office is at No. 11

Wall Street. Dr. William T. Hornaday is the Director and General Curator

of the Zoological Park, and his office is now located in the

Administration Building on Baird Court. The address is 185th Street and

Southern Boulevard. The Society assumed control of the grounds on July

1, 1898, and began the first excavation, for the Bird House, on August

11th. The Park Department began work, on the Wild-Fowl Pond, on August

29, 1898.

 

Sources of Income.—The funds devoted to the development of the

Zoological Park have been derived from the following sources:

 

1. From the Zoological Society, obtained by subscriptions from private

citizens—funds for plans, for the erection of buildings, aviaries, dens

and other accommodations for animals; and for the purchase of animals.

 

2. From the City of New York—by vote of the Board of Estimate and

Apportionment—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.

 

[Illustration: SKETCH MAP SHOWING LOCATION OF ZOOLOGICAL PARK.]

 

The Zoological Society has expended, of its own funds, for plans,

construction and live animals, over $641,000. This sum has been derived

from its special subscription fund, and from the annual dues and fees of

its members.

 

Privileges.—Because of the fact that the Zoological Society has

undertaken to furnish all the animals for the Zoological Park, the City

of New York has agreed that all the revenue-producing privileges of the

Park shall be controlled by the Society. _All net profits_ derived from

the restaurants, boats, refreshments, riding animals, the sale of

photographs, books, etc., and all admission fees, are expended by the

Society _in the purchase of animals for the Park_. It is well that

visitors should know that _all net profits realized in the Park go

directly toward the increase of the animal collections_.

 

The Society maintains a supply of boats for hire, and riding animals of

various kinds for the amusement of children.

 

Location.—The Zoological Park is the geographical center of that portion

of Greater New York now known as Bronx County. From east to west it is

half-way between the Hudson River and Long Island Sound, and from north

to south it is midway between the mouth of the Harlem River and Mount

Vernon. From the City Hall to the Reptile House the distance is eleven

miles. The distance by automobile from the Central Park Plaza to the

Concourse Entrance is 9½ miles. The Northwest Entrance is about half a

mile from Fordham station on the Harlem Railway.

 

The area of the Park is 264 acres, divided as follows:

 

Land area west of the Boston Road 150 acres.

Land area east of the Boston Road 80 “

Bronx Lake 25 “

Lake Agassiz 5½ “

Aquatic Mammals’ Pond, Cope Lake and Beaver Pond 3½ “

Total area 264 acres.

 

[Illustration: SKETCH MAP OF THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK AND VICINITY.]

 

 

MEANS OF ACCESS.

 

Via the Subway, to the Boston Road Entrance.—The terminus of the eastern

branch of the Subway, at “180th St., Zoological Park,” lands visitors at

the southeastern entrances to the Zoological Park, at West Farms.

Visitors from points below 96th Street must be careful to board the

“Bronx Park” trains, and not the “Broadway” trains.