80 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1912. 



wholly bare of vegetation and the soil is washing away under the 

 influence of rains. These animals must soon be removed to a new 

 location. 



Alterations of area. — Very soon after the inception of the park 

 endeavors were made to have its boundaries changed to conform to 

 the plan of the city. It must be remembered that this plan was not 

 developed when the park was laid out. Consequently there are 

 regions where the boundary does not reach existing streets and 

 narrow strips of ground are left which, if occupied, make the rear of 

 houses abut upon the park, presenting an unsightly appearance. 

 This has gone on until on the eastern side private houses have been 

 built that seem to be about to slide down a steep cliff into the park. 

 The value of the adjoining property has materially enhanced. 



The western side is greatly in need of improvement. The ideal 

 plan would be to extend the park to Connecticut Avenue, which is a 

 fine, broad street, and make the principal entrance there, with gate- 

 ways befitting a national institution. If this be found to involve 

 too great an expenditure, the area should at least be made to reach 

 to some contiguous road, either now existing or to be hereafter 

 established. 



Retaining wall. — The extension of a street a short distance from 

 the southern boundary of the park has made necessary an extensive 

 fill of earth across the ravine where Ontario Road reaches the i^ark 

 boundarj^ This fill is encroaching more and more upon the park, 

 and after every heavy rain tons of earth are precipitated down this 

 ravine and into the creek. There seems to be no remedy for this 

 but the construction of a suitable retaining wall or walls forming a 

 series of terraces. 



Ripra-pping hanks of Rock Creek. — The heavy volume of water 

 that rushes down the creek at every storm erodes the banks, imder- 

 mines large trees, and in some places threatens the roadways. It is 

 desirable to avoid this by riprapping with stones of sufficient size to 

 withstand the action of the water. Such work can be effectually 

 concealed by planting twigs and small plants in the interstices. 



Footbridge heloiv louder ford. — As the citj' is rapidly increasing to 

 the westward of the park, more and more people enter from Cathe- 

 dral Avenue. There is a well-made road from this entrance to the 

 ford through the creek, practicable during low water for carriages. 

 Foot passengers are, however, placed at a disadvantage, as in order 

 to reach the animal houses the}' are obliged to scramble along a pre- 

 cipitous pathway, used at present mainl}^ by workmen, before they 

 can get to the properly improA^ed roads. At a slight expense a foot- 

 bridge could be made below the lower ford which would enable vis- 

 itors to reach at once the main roads of the park. 



Additions to the collection. — Without attempting to exhibit those 

 animals that are valuable merely because of their variety, it would 



