920 PARKS 



may not become entirely extinct, as has been the case with so many species 

 that have been completely destroyed, (d) The study of disease in wild 

 animals and birds, with special reference to the relation existing between 

 these and the diseases to which domestic animals and even mankind are 

 subject. (<?) The entertainment of our home people and of the thousands 

 of visitors from other cities and other states, who seek in San Diego pleasant 

 ways in which to pass their leisure hours. 



By an act of Congress in 1890 the National Zoological Park at Wash- 

 ington, D. C., was placed under the administrative control of the Smith- 

 sonian Institution, a private corporation, although very closely allied to 

 the Federal Government. This act authorized the institution to administer 

 the park "for the advancement of science and the instruction and recreation 

 of the people." 



The foregoing examples, together with the new zoological park at 

 Chicago and the new park at Detroit, are the principal illustrations of the 

 management of public zoological gardens or parks by private agencies. 

 Some of the advantages of the private administration of zoological parks 

 may be summarized as follows: (a) It ensures the continuous interest and 

 support of an organized group of citizens definitely interested in the aims 

 and purposes of a zoological park, (b) Usually the membership selects 

 prominent and able citizens as officers and members of the board of direc- 

 tors, which ensures capable leadership in the general administration of the 

 zoo. (c) The officers, members of the board of directors, and the members 

 of the society in general are keenly alive to the fundamental value of trained 

 workers, especially in the major executive positions, (d) Both the selection 

 and retention of employees will likely be based entirely upon merit. These 

 societies are notably free from political practices, (e) Funds, whether from 

 private or public sources, will likely be administered without the wasteful 

 practices sometimes present in political management. Moreover, an organ- 

 ized group of citizens, such as compose these societies, are more likely to 

 secure adequate funds from both private and public sources than would be 

 the case where the zoo is only a division of a park department. (/) The 

 private organization will generally give a great deal of attention to develop- 

 ment of the educational and recreational possibilities of the zoo, because 

 its interest is not divided as is the case where the zoo is under the direct 

 management of commissioner of parks or of a park board. The fact that 

 so many of the outstanding zoos of the United States are under the manage- 

 ment of incorporated private societies is the best possible testimony of the 

 effectiveness of this type of management. 



The Zoological Society of St. Louis was formed in 1910 and incor- 

 porated in 1914. Its objects are stated as follows: (a) To establish, maintain 



