28 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



recreation of the people, but by placing ouc-lialf of the expense of 

 pnrcbase and maintenance upon tbe taxpayers of tbe District, Con- 

 gress in fact, tliougb presumably not in intent, made tbis subordinate 

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

 more utilitarian idea. 



Tbis i)redoniiuance arose from tbe natural wisb of tbe local taxpayer 

 to receive entertainment for bis money and not to si^eud it for objects 

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

 bave been but reasonable, from tbe point of view of residents of tbe 

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

 tbrougb tbe terms of formal legislation. 



Tbose to wbom was delegated tbe i)Ower of carrying out tbe man- 

 dates of Congress were tbus confronted by a diftereut task from tbat 

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

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

 pensive paddocks for inclosing and sbeltering tbe animals under tbe 

 conditions of wild life, and secluding tbem witb tbe aim of enablingtbem 

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

 uted comparatively exi^ensive buildings, witb tbe opposite aim of exliib- 

 iting tbe animals obtained. A system of roadways tbat sbould afford tbe 

 public access to all parts of tbe park where animals are kept bad to be 

 devised, and in ways too numerous for detail tbe necessity was imposed 

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

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



It was impossible to do tbis witbin the sum calculated to carry out 

 tbe original plans, but no more bas been granted. What has been 

 done bas been done, then, incompletely, though witb an extremely 

 economical expenditure, and it is perbaps a matter of congratubition 

 tbat it bas been possible to do so nuicb witb so limited an amount. 



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

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



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

 sup])ly, sewerage and drainage, and for grading, planting, and other- 

 wise improving the grounds, erecting and repairing buildings and 

 inclosures for tbe 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 tbe revenues of tbe District of Columbia and tbe 

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

 detail of the expenses of tbe National Zoological Park shall be nuide 

 to Congress at tbe beginning of eacb regular session. 



Tbe previous year bad fully demonstrated tbat tbe park successfully 

 fulfilled one of tbe purposes for which it was created — tliat of tbe 

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

 lay in my power for tbe promotion of the primary objects of tbe j)ark* 



* A full statement of the number 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. 



