The Great Round World and What Is Going On In It, Vol. 1, No. 57, December 9, 1897

When a fire breaks out here, it is the duty of the person discovering it to run to the nearest fire-alarm box, and, opening the box, pull down the hook he will see inside. This causes a signal-number to appear on the key-board in front of the operator at headquarters.

The number tells him the district in which the fire has occurred, and with one touch of a telegraphic key he sends out an alarm to the thirty-odd engine-houses in the neighborhood of the fire.

The pressure on the key at headquarters releases the horses in the stalls of the various engine-houses. Instantly these clever beasts dash out of their boxes and place themselves at the shafts, the collar clasps around their necks and harnesses them to the engine; the men slide down the poles to their places, the gates swing open, and the engine is out and dashing along the road in less time than it takes to tell about it.

By the use of regularly appointed signals, the first fireman who arrives at the fire can inform headquarters just how serious the fire is, and whether more engines should be sent.

On one occasion a great fire broke out in the busy part of New York city. It was a serious fire; and according to the records at headquarters, in less than four minutes the first batch of engines had arrived and three extra calls had been sent out, which were speeding half the engines in the city to the scene of the fire.

It will interest you to know that the fire department of the city of New York has reached such a degree of excellence that the risk of serious damage and loss by fire has been greatly reduced, and, in consequence, the insurance companies have lowered the rate of insurance; that is to say, they do not charge people as much money to insure their property this year as they did last year and have done for many years past.

The anxiety about Professor Andrée has increased. The steamer which left Tromso, Norway, in search of the explorer has returned, and reports that no traces of him could be found. Search parties were sent out in every direction, but nothing could be discovered.

The vessel sailed on November 5th and returned on the 21st, and her crew declare that a most vigilant search was made.

The vessel was sent in consequence of the report brought in by the wrecked whalers that they had heard cries for help.

A strange freak of nature is reported from Kansas.

The railroad station of Rozel, eighteen miles from Larned, has been swallowed up.

When the people in the neighborhood went to bed at night, the station was in its usual place; in the morning the station, two or three small elevators, and a few other small buildings had disappeared.

Investigation proved that they had been swallowed up, and had disappeared in a chasm.

The depth of this rent in the earth cannot be determined. The hole is said to be about an acre in extent, of oblong shape, with walls reaching straight down for seventy feet, at which depth the hole is filled with dark, stagnant water, into which anything that is thrown immediately sinks.

No lives were lost, as no one remains at the station over night.

The interest of the surrounding country is intense, and many theories are advanced as to the cause of the catastrophe.

Some think that the station dropped into an immense cave, and others that it was caused by the underflow of the Arkansas River, which is overflowing its banks at the present time. Others think that this section of Kansas is over an immense underground river or sea.

A similar accident occurred in Meade County, Kansas, ten years ago. A section of land crossed by a public road disappeared in a single night, leaving a chasm which is a notable landmark to-day.

The plans for the Bronx Park Zoölogical Gardens in New York city have been perfected, and are now before the Park Board for acceptance.

From all accounts, the new Zoo will be one of the finest animal gardens in the world.

It will cover two hundred and sixty-one acres of land, and is to combine picturesque scenery for the pleasure of the visitor, with roomy quarters and as nearly natural conditions as possible for the animals.

The buffaloes are to have a huge field appropriated to their use, where they can roam at will. The visitors who wish to see them must climb a wooded hill, from which they can view the beasts without disturbing them.

The lions and tigers are to have open cages, where they can romp and play.

It is proposed to paint the walls that divide these cages one from another with African landscapes, so that the captives may feel as much at home as possible.

The monkeys in the new Zoo are to be accommodated with a little artificial forest, where they can roam freely. The birds are to have a huge tree-grown aviary, with bathing-ponds and every desired luxury.

The gardens being so large, and the extent of the domain of each class of animals so spacious, it has been found necessary to arrange a means for the visitors to see all the beauties of the Zoo without undue fatigue.

It has therefore been decided to use electric motor-carriages throughout the park. Two fine roadways are to be constructed, which are to meander through the gardens, taking in all the buildings, ranges, animal enclosures, and lakes and ponds.

One roadway is for vehicles going in one direction, and the other for carriages going in the opposite way. By this means the visitors will be able to see everything in the gardens without getting tired.

This must be a lesson taught by the World's Fair in Chicago. There you had no choice between walking until you almost dropped from fatigue, or being wheeled about (at ruinous expense) in an invalid-chair by a stripling youth who would pant and perspire until stout and healthy passengers felt in duty bound to get out and walk to save their charioteer's further exertion.

G.H. Rosenfeld.