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 |
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.
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. |
SKETCH MAP OF THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK AND VICINITY.