130 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



plans presented herewith would involve an expense of perhaps 

 $100,000 as roughly estimated by the architect. 



There are serious difficulties in the way of increasing the 

 size of the present building. An increase in its height sufficient 

 to permit of twice the present exhibition and office space would 

 involve complicated construction. Large stairways would be 

 necessary as the Aquarium visitors are too numerous to be 

 transported by elevators. The weight of exhibition and dis- 

 tributing tanks, and also of visitors would be very great, while 

 there would be difficulties in the way of proper lighting of the 

 different tiers of tanks. The reconstruction of the Aquarium 

 would moreover put it out of commission a year or more. 



The present building is an old landmark and a plan for its 

 removal would meet with opposition. The best results could 

 only be secured by enlarged ground space, which would also 

 meet with opposition in some quarters, as a curtailment of space 

 in Battery Park. 



An addition to the present building would be as nearly ideal 

 as existing conditions permit, as the structure would be lower, 

 would require no high stairways, would involve no closing of the 

 present exhibition room and offices during construction and 

 would permit of the use of the present machinery equipment 

 with merely extended pipe lines. # 



Such an addition should be connected with the front of the 

 present building, should be twice as wide and three stories high. 

 Its first and second floors, like those in the old building, would 

 be used for exhibits, while its third floor, extended partly over 

 the old building, would furnish sufficient office, library and 

 laboratory space. By such an arrangement "Old Castle Gar- 

 den" would be permitted to remain as a rear wing. 



The architect's preliminary sketches of such an addition are 

 presented herewith. Plates I and II. 



The present building is unsightly. It is well described in 

 "The New Neiu York" by John C. Van Dyke, whose reference 

 to it is quoted herewith : 



"If such a fate [referring to the City Hall and old Trinity 

 out-living their usefulness] should overtake the Aquarium 

 (formerly Castle Garden) there would be few mourners. It has 

 no beauty about it, and the only thing that is saving just now 

 is its enforced use. It makes a fairly decent building for an 

 aquarium, and besides it is located in Battery Park and no one 

 is crying for the land it occupies. 



