REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 29 



it became necessary to further, as far as possible, and in the same con- 

 nection, the recreation of the public. To this end, and to that of con- 

 venience and safety, the roadways have been widened and extended, 

 footways have been placed on the bridge, the access to the principal 

 animal house and to the principal outdoor cages has been improved, 

 and all inclosures considered unsafe have been properly strengthened 

 or defended. 



Since the Eock Creek electric railway has been in operation many 

 passengers by that route enter the park by the w^estern entrance upon 

 Connecticut avenue extended. More than 2,000 persons have some- 

 times entered here during a single day. This has made it necessary to 

 extend the main road through the park to that entrance, which has 

 been done on the lines indicated by Mr. F. L. Olmsted, and gives a 

 driveway through the most beautiful part of the park. The funds at 

 the disposal of the j)ark were insufficient to complete this road in a 

 permanent manner. As soon as practicable it should be macadamized 

 and made equal to the suburban roads with which it communicates. 



It is necessary to emphasize the fact that the number of visitors to 

 the park so far exceeds all the earlier calculations that unexpected 

 outlays have become necessary. A wider sidewalk of a permanent 

 character is needed from the Quarry road entrance to that at Connec- 

 ticut avenue. A temporary wooden walk has been i)laced to the ani- 

 mal house from the first-named point, but is far too narrow for the 

 crowds entering there every Sunday and holiday, while no sidewalk 

 exists from the western entrance of the park. 



The bridge near the Quarry road entrance has proved quite insuf- 

 ficient for the crowds of carriages and foot passengers tluit throng it 

 upon every holiday. It was and still is greatly to be regretted that 

 under the actual appropriations a larger and more tasteful structure 

 could not have been built at this poiutj it was erected under the neces- 

 sity of getting visitors across the river in some way, and is in a form 

 entirely unsatisfactory to those who, under such necessity, designed it. 

 Some relief has been given during the year by the addition of narrow 

 footways on either side of the driveway. These are quite too narrow, 

 but are all that the present structure will allow compatible with safety. 

 It may be found necessary to build a footbridge at a point higher up 

 the stream to somewhat relieve the pressure at this point. 



The addition to the principal animal house mentioned in last year's 

 report has been completed and fully occupied. It is merely a frame 

 shed built in as cheap a manner as is consistent with safety, and 

 warmth, and it appears incongruous when compared with the solid stone 

 structure of which it forms an annex. The original design of con- 

 structing this entire building of -stone should not be abandoned. It is 

 already found to be insufficient for the needs of the park, and must at 

 no distant day be further extended. It will be necessary hereafter to 

 bear in mind that the cages for animals must be larger and confined 



