44 



" The establishment of the Park System of the Bronx fore- 

 shadowed the foundation and development of its two great 

 educational institutions, the New York Botanical Garden and 

 the New York Zoological Park, both subsequently located in 

 Bronx Park, and both contemplated by the Commission, whose 

 achievements we to-day commemorate. The Botanical Gar- 

 den reservation includes 250 acres of the northern part of this 

 Park, extending south along the western side of the Bronx 

 River to a point nearly opposite the old Lorillard Snuff Mill, 

 and on the eastern side to a point somewhat above the water- 

 fall. South of these limits to Pelham Avenue about 150 

 acres remain under the sole jurisdiction of the Department 

 of Parks. The Zoological Park comprises all the land of 

 Bronx Park south of Pelham Avenue. 



" Through liberal financial provisions by the City of New 

 York and through large sums privately contributed, the de- 

 velopment of these institutions has gone forward by leaps 

 and bounds. No such rapid formation of similar institu- 

 tions on so large a scale has ever been accomplished in any 

 other city, for construction work dates back only to 1896. 

 Both institutions have already attained international import- 

 ance in this brief period ; their collections of plants and animals 

 are continually increasing in variety ; rare species are being 

 brought from distant lands, and their educational and scien- 

 tific work is expanding; their future is very bright as among 

 the most useful of establishments for public enjoyment, for 

 education, and for scientific research. Both are controlled 

 by corporations chartered by the State of New York and thus 

 empowered to receive, hold, and administer funds for all pur- 

 poses germane to their corporate existence. The endowment 

 of both institutions is as yet small relative to the usefulness 

 of such endowments; opportunity is thus offered for donors 

 to materially increase their permanent funds. 



" The natural features of Bronx Park are of great beauty 

 and throughout the building of the Botanical Garden and the 

 Zoological Park they have been jealously guarded and pre- 



