REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 55 



Rock Creek Railway at either etui of the park to the animal house is half a mile, 

 and from the Fourteenth street car lino a still greater distance. This is a serious 

 inconvenience to many people, particularly the aged and infirm, who have only 

 this means of reaching the park. For carriages the Quarry road is far too narrow 

 and very steep, the grade being 9 per cent in some places. 



During the year the District authorities improved this road considerably, prop- 

 erly grading and guttering it and building a suitable sidewalk. While this is a 

 great improvement, the grade of the road is such that it can never be suitable for a 

 principal avenue of access. It is possible that when the projected improvement of 

 Kenesaw avenue is completed that some amelioration of this condition may ensue. 

 There seems to be no reason why street cars should not find ready access to the park 

 by this route. 



The unexpected number of visitors made it essential to increase the capacity of 

 the bridge and to protect foot passengers who use it. Footways have accordingly 

 been added to the original structure. These are not wide enough to properly accom- 

 modate the public, but are as wide as is consistent with the safety of the structure. 



The offices of the park remain iu the dilapidated house known as the Holt man- 

 sion. When the park was first projected it was expected that the superintendent 

 would reside on the premises, and this building seemed to offer a suitable residence. 

 The experience of the last two years has shown that that plan was a wise one. 

 There should undoubtedly be some one always at hand in the park to respond to 

 any calls that may be made in an emergency. Besides this the park is never closed 

 to the public, and it is therefore desirable that the Superintendent should be always 

 accessible. During the past year several valuable deer have been attacked by dogs 

 during the night and either worried to death or injured so that they had to be 

 killed. 



A list of the animals now in the park is herewith submitted, together with state- 

 ments of those that have been received from various sources. A few animals have 

 been presented, among the most notable being two fiue wolf-hounds from Southern 

 Russia by Mr. Byron G. Daniels, U. S. consul at Hull, England; an alligator over 

 10 feet in length by Mr. E. S. Schmidt, of this city, and a black wolf by Mr. R. M. 

 Middletou, jr., of South Pittsburg, Teuu. These gifts are properly, appreciated, yet 

 it is found that increases from such sources can not be depended on to keep up 

 the collection. 



From the Yellowstone National Park 17 animals were received. These were kept 

 at that park for some time before shipment, and were then transported by freight, 

 in charge of a keeper. Unless animals can be obtained in greater numbers it will 

 be fouud that this is a very expensive and precarious method of obtaining them. 



A few auimals have been loaned, notably a tiger, by Mr. J. T. McCaddon, manager 

 of the Adam Forepaugh shows, and a zebu by Mr. A. E. Randle, of this city. These 

 are subject to recall by their owners. Although such animals do not become the 

 property of the park, yet an opportunity is afforded of exhibiting them for a con- 

 siderable time for the mere expense of their care and feeding. 



The provisions of the appropriation were such that no animals could be purchased 

 during the year, and a number of fine opportunities for acquiring specimens was 

 thus lost. 



A few animals were born in the park, among which were a bison, a deer, two elk, 

 and a llama. 



The losses by death have been considerable, amounting to as much as 20 per cent 

 of the entire collection. 



The total number of animals now on hand is 504, being an increase of .".0 over the 

 number ou hand at the first of the year. 



