12 
upon a solid and permanent footing. The experi- 
ence of the numerous similar gardens of Europe, 
organized upon a stock basis, has been so fortunate, 
that the Board feel warranted in expressing the 
belief that the limited rate of six per cent, will 
be realized as soon as the Garden is fairly com- 
pleted, and a surplus remain for its enlargement 
and improvement. When properly stocked, the 
necessary expenses of keeping the collection and 
Garden will be large, and it is apparent, that it is 
only by charging a small admission fee for en- 
trance, that the requisite funds annually needed 
can be obtained. By this means, there will be no 
difficulty in meeting all demands. The income of 
the London Zoological Garden, according to its 
last official report for the year 1872, was £26,728 
OS. 4^. (about $133,000), and' the visitors 648,088, 
The Board have a written offer that a sum 
of $25,000, heretofore appropriated to a Zoologi- 
cal Garden in Philadelphia, by a gentleman of 
this city, will be subscribed to the stock of the 
Society, upon the conditions that $125,000 first 
be secured, that no vinous, malt or spirituous 
liquors be sold, and no circus or theatrical per- 
formances be allowed in the Garden. When the 
subscriptions reach the above named sum, it will 
be for the Society to decide whether it will ac- 
cept or reject this offer. 
The sum of $250,000, would enable the Board 
to place the Garden in such a condition as to 
far surpass any exhibition of like character in 
this country, and to compare favorably with, and 
soon equal, many of those in foreign parts. The 
