112 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



proposition, our animals are not "pining behind their prison 

 bars." The vast majority of them are happier, and better fed 

 and watered, than they would be by their own efforts in a state 

 of nature wherein life is one continuous struggle against hunger 

 and sudden death. 



As our improvements finally were wrought out, we find that 

 we have not made many mistakes, or serious ones. Our most 

 serious disappointment has been with the Burrowing Rodent 

 Quarters. It was found utterly impossible to utilize large and 

 "palatial" open-air runways for burrowing rodents, and induce 

 the animals to show themselves satisfactorily to visitors in the 

 daytime! As a result the rodents have been placed in cages 

 in the Small-Mammal House, and other animals have been placed 

 in the Burrowing Rodent Quarters. 



The most important change from our original design was 

 the forced abandonment of the plan for a line of motor-omnibus 

 cars to carry visitors through the Park, stopping at various sta- 

 tions. For this service it was intended to use the Service Road ; 

 but very soon after the construction of the latter it was found 

 to be an utter impossibility to induce visitors to refrain from 

 walking upon it, and keep to the walks connecting the animal ex- 

 hibits. It was impossible to build the road otherwise than on 

 the general surface of the Park, with crossings at grade, and 

 with this condition, an army of attendants would have been re- 

 quired to keep the road free from pedestrians. It was found 

 that visitors take delight in the width of the Service Road, and 

 for every one who would feel disposed to pay to ride upon it, at 

 least 100 would wish to walk upon it. 



The motor-omnibus idea was abandoned because it could 

 not be carried into effect; and to-day the visitors on foot who 

 throng the service road actually seem to resent the passage over 

 it of the few service vehicles that are compelled to use it. 



Beyond question, the millions of New York particularly en- 

 joy the Zoological Park because in every sense of the word it is 

 dedicated to pedestrians ; and excepting the Grand Concourse for 

 visitors' vehicles, the throngs of women and children are not in 

 momentary fear of being run down by reckless drivers. In New 

 York City it is a great thing to be able to get away from the 

 whirling wheels of traffic, and for a few hours feel absolutely 

 safe. 



As one reminiscence leads to another, we are now reminded 

 of the proposed invasions of the Goths and Vandals, from which 

 the Executive Committee has saved the Park. First came a 



