The National Zoological Park 449 



an abundance of excellent water, and sufficiently near the 

 city to make it easily accessible. 



Fortunately the land along this beautiful stream, being 

 hilly and not immediately available for building purposes, 

 had not shared the general advance of prices that had 

 affected nearly all property in the vicinity of Washington. 

 Upon a hasty survey of the region made by Mr. Hornaday, 

 under the direction of the Secretary, it was found that a tract 

 of one hundred acres or more could be procured for a sum 

 that did not seem exorbitant. 



It was not found difficult to interest public-spirited persons 

 in an enterprise of this novel and peculiar character, which 

 would not only afford an excellent opportunity for zoological 

 study, but would also give to the public a beautiful pleasure 

 ground, and preserve from devastation and the real-estate 

 agent a delightful region greatly needed as a park by the 

 inhabitants of Washington. Senator Beck, of Kentucky, and 

 Senator Morrill, of Vermont, were among the first to warmly 

 espouse the cause of the new park. The former introduced a 

 bill on April 23, 1888, which provided for a commission, com- 

 posed of the Secretary of the Interior, the President of the 

 Board of Commissioners of the District of Columbia, and the 

 Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, which was to have 

 power to select and obtain land, to lay it out as a National 

 Zoological Park, and finally to turn the same over to the 

 Regents of the Smithsonian Institution. This bill received 

 the earnest support of Senator Morrill and many other gen- 

 tlemen in both Houses of Congress. Attached as an amend- 

 ment to the sundry civil appropriation bill, it failed before the 

 conference committee appointed by the two Houses. 



At the next session of Congress a measure of a similar 

 character was introduced by Senator Edmunds as an amend- 

 ment to the District of Columbia appropriation bill. With 



