ZOOLOGICAL PARKS AND AQUARIUMS 925 



zoological park and the buildings and grounds thereof and of securing and 

 displaying zoological collections therein the corporate authorities of any 

 forest preserve district containing a population of two hundred thousand 

 or more are hereby authorized to levy annually a tax on all taxable property 

 in such district as assessed for the purpose of country taxation, of not to 

 exceed three-tenths of one mill on the dollar for a period ending December 31, 

 1928, and of not to exceed one-tenth of one mill on the dollar thereafter." 

 Illinois Revised Statutes, -Cahill, 1925, Chapter 57a, Section 19. In 

 Milwaukee one-tenth of a mill on each dollar of valuation is devoted to 

 the maintenance and development of the zoo, but practically all specimens 

 have been secured through donations, chiefly through the efforts of the 

 Washington Park Zoological Society. 



2. Public and Private Funds Combined. 



New York, Philadelphia and San Diego are examples of zoos financed 

 by both public and private funds, but there is a great difference among 

 these cities as to the relative importance of the two sources of income. 

 In Philadelphia the yearly operation and maintenance cost is approxi- 

 mately $200,000. Of this amount only $50,000 comes from public appro- 

 priation, and it is stipulated by the city that inmates of all charitable insti- 

 tutions must be admitted free, and that two hundred thousand tickets be 

 given to the board of education for the free admission of school children. 

 The remainder of the annual cost comes from admission fees ($100,000 to 

 $125,000, yearly), membership dues in the zoological society and receipts 

 from concessions. 



The New York Zoological Park has the following sources of income: 



Private. Subscriptions from citizens, annual dues and fees from mem- 

 bers. In addition, the City of New York permits the society to retain and 

 expend all income from revenue-producing privileges and admission fees. 

 This income is used for the purchase of animals for the park. Up to 1924 

 the zoological society has expended of its own funds for plans, construction 

 and live animals, over $641,000. The society has an endowment fund of 

 approximately $2,400,000. 



Public. Appropriations from the City of New York for the construc- 

 tion of walks, roads, sewers and drainage, water supply, public comfort 

 stations, entrances, grading, excavating of large ponds and lakes, annual 

 maintenance and also for animal buildings. For a period of five years 

 (1921-1925) the average annual appropriation by the city for the zoological 

 park has been approximately $249,475. This is budgeted through the Bronx 

 Park Department. 



In San Diego the zoological society provides guides and $5,000 yearly 



