52 



ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY BULLETIN 



But mere fields and meadows were not all : 

 for presently there appeared a fine array of 

 elaborate stables and runways, soon to be oc- 

 eupied by great birds whose yield of plumes 

 would reduce all rivals to a state of wondering 

 shame. The larger of the old farm houses was 

 remodeled and furnished with wide verandas, 

 whose striped awnings invited the warm and 

 awe-struck visitor. Well equipped incubator 

 and brooder houses, and display rooms for the 

 finished plumes, soon were added. An office 

 building on the main street of Bloomsburg was 

 acquired for handling the voluminous corre- 

 spondence and increasing business of the new 

 concern. 



All was now ready, and only the birds them- 

 selves were lacking. In order that the finest 

 stock might be secured as a foundation, it was 

 necessary to make a trip to Africa where, the 

 stockholders were solemnly assured, the choic- 

 est birds of tile wild flocks would be run down 

 and captured by subtle devices known only to 

 the promoter of the plan. Still ornamenting a 

 wall of tile erstwhile ostrich farm-house is an 

 enlarged photograph, showing the gentleman 

 mounted on a dromedary, well armed with a 

 long rifle of Arab design, alertly guarding three 

 naked and grinning negroes, who firmly hold 

 an anaemic' and resigned cock ostrich of diminu- 

 tive size, all striking exhibits of the dangers of 

 the expedition. 



On July Hi. 1910, the ostrich caravan finally 

 reached Bloomsburg. When word came that 

 the long-awaited birds were actually about to 

 arrive, the town restrained itself with difficulty. 

 Data as to the exact number of ostriches are 

 not now available, but the large and heavy crates 

 were so numerous as to tax severely the truck- 

 ing possibilities of the town. Ancient vehicles 

 of strange design, decrepit farm wagons, rusted 

 and warped from long disuse, loudly protesting 

 at every revolution of twisted wheels, were 

 drawn up at the station platform in proud ar- 

 rav. When finally the precious loads were all 

 in place, the procession started on its way to 

 the Ostrich Farm. Such a sight never before 

 had been seen in Bloomsburg. and it was missed 

 by few. Schools were closed for the day and 

 business, aside from that of ostrich farming, 

 was at a standstill. 



In spite of many difficulties, the ostriches 

 finally reached their destination, and were in- 

 stalled in their respective pens. Bloomsburg 

 and its jealous neighbors feasted their eyes for 

 many days, at twenty-five cents per person. The 

 Ostrich Farm as a local attraction was a de- 

 cided success. Somewhat to the disappointment 



of the stockholders, however, it was explained 

 that the first crop of plumes could not be har- 

 vested at once, because the birds must have time 

 to recuperate from their trying journey, and 

 begin to feel the benefits of the bracing cold 

 which was to stimulate them to unheard of 

 feats of feather growth. This slight check to 

 enthusiasm was more than outweighed by the 

 information that these ostriches were positively 

 the last that could be exported from Africa, 

 since the various governments, realizing too late 

 the great potential wealth which was slipping 

 through their lingers, had sternly forbidden that 

 any more such birds be allowed to leave. Backed 

 by this dictum, and firmly believing that all 

 ostriches on farms in other parts of America 

 were inbred, degenerate and incapable of pro- 

 ducing plumes superior to those of a turkey gob- 

 bler. Bloomsburg was content to let nature take- 

 its course. 



To while away the interval between the ar- 

 rival of the birds and the harvesting of the 

 plume crops, diversions in the form of fancy 

 stock breeding were conceived. Herds of 

 Guernsey cattle and blooded sheep were in- 

 stalled in capacious barns and while Blooms- 

 burg was satisfied that its income from the os- 

 triches alone would be sufficiently bountiful, it 

 felt that if the increase of the herds could be 

 disposed of at the- rate at which the original 

 purchases were made, these side lines might not 

 be without advantage. 



Time passed, and strangely enough the plumes 

 still were in the making. Happily, it was now 

 found that there were large deposits of lime 

 stone on the property, and a prompt prospectus 

 quoted an imported expert in such matters, who 

 explained that the stone was real, and that it 

 could be made to produce a profit of fifty cents 

 per load, delivered. It is probable that this an- 

 nouncement was calmly received by the know- 

 ing, since many other farms in the vicinity were 

 equally endowed, the lure of the suppositious 

 fifty cents not being a sufficient inducement to 

 those inclined to develop quarries. 



Xext in order, the surprising discovery was 

 made that the bed of the Susquehanna, where 

 it passed the property of the Ostrich Farm, was 

 covered with great quantities of free coal, which 

 could be dredged out at small cost. 



The particular flaw in the latter plan does 

 not develop, but the fact remains that for two 

 vears the Ostrich Farm dragged along, paying 

 no dividends. Doubting stockholders were ap- 

 peased for a time by the sub-developments, and 

 finally by the increase in paper value of the 



