28 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



recreation of the people, but by placing one-half of the expense of 

 purchase and maintenance upon the taxpayers of the District, Con- 

 gress in fact, though presumably not in intent, made this subordinate 

 feature predominant in a plan whose inception arose in a simpler and 

 more utilitarian idea. 



This predominance arose from the natural wish of the local taxpayer 

 to receive entertainment for his money and not to spend it for objects 

 of remote and national importance. This demand must be admitted to 

 have been but reasonable, from the point of view of residents of the 

 District, and it made itself felt through Congress in many ways, if not 

 through the terms of formal legislation. 



Those to whom was delegated the power of carrying out the man- 

 dates of Congress were thus confronted by a different task from that 

 originally contemplated by one in some way not consonant with it, and 

 by a far more expensive one. In place, for instance, of the large inex- 

 pensive paddocks for inclosing and secluding the animals under the 

 conditions of wild life and secluding them with the aim of enablingthem 

 to increase in the undisturbed retirement necessary, must be substi- 

 uted comparatively expensive buildings, with the opposite aim of exhib- 

 itingthe animals obtained. A system of roadways that should afford the 

 public access to all parts of the park where animals are kept had to be 

 devised and in ways too numerous for detail the necessity was imposed 

 of forming the National Zoological Park more on the model of an ordi- 

 inary zoological garden than of the first large and simple idea. 



It was impossible to do this within the sums calculated to carry out 

 the original plans, but no more has been granted. What has been 

 done has been done, then, incompletely, though with an extremely 

 economical expenditure, and it is perhaps a matter of congratulation 

 that it has been possible to do so much with so limited an amount. 



The appropriation made for the National Zoological Park by the sun- 

 dry civil bill passed August 5, 1892, was in the following terms: 



For continuing the construction of roads, walks, bridges, water 

 supply, sewerage and drainage, and for grading, planting, and other- 

 wise improving the grounds, erecting and repairing buildings and 

 inclosures for the animals, and for administrative purposes, care, sub- 

 sistence, and transportation of animals, including salaries and compen- 

 sation of all necessary employes, and general incidental expenses not 

 otherwise provided for, fifty thousand dollars, one-half of which sum 

 shall be paid from the revenues of the District of Columbia and the 

 other half from the Treasury of the United States; and a report in 

 detail of the expenses of the National Zoological Park shall be made 

 to Congress at the beginning of each regular session. 



The previous year had fully demonstrated that the park successfully 

 fulfilled one of the purposes for which it was created — that of the 

 <« instruction and recreation of the people." After having done all that 

 lay in my power for the promotion of the primary objects of the park* 



A full statement of the Dumber and condition of these animals will be found in 

 the report of the acting manager. It may be .stated here, however, that indigenous 

 wild animals constitute at present a large majority of the whole 



