140 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1956 



the meager funds available may be used to maintain the areas most 

 used by the public. 



Additional funds are most urgently needed for personnel, mainte- 

 nance, installations, and the following construction : 



Buildings : 



A new administration building to replace the 151-year-old historic 

 landmark that is still in use as an office building but that is neither 

 suitably located nor well adapted for the purpose. 



A building to house antelopes and other hoofed animals that require 

 a heated building. 



A fireproof service building for receiving animals shipped in, quar- 

 antining them, and caring for those in ill health or those that cannot 

 be placed on exhibition. 



Enclosures: 



Enclosures and pools for beavers, otters, seals, and nutrias, which 

 cannot be adequately cared for or exhibited under existing conditions. 



New paddocks for the exhibition of such animals as deer, sheep, 

 goats, and other hoofed animals, to provide for the exhibition of a 

 greater assortment of these attractive and valuable animals. 



Installations: 



A new ventilation system for the bird house. 



A vacuum pump to provide more efficient and economical operation 

 of the heating system in the reptile house. 



An air compressor for general use about the park, particularly for 

 freeing sewers of stoppages, operating air hammers, blowing out 

 boiler tubes, and for use in excavation and construction work. 



Additional parking space to be developed on about 14,000 square 

 yards of land in several different locations, mainly near the creek. 



An additional coal bunker for storage of a reserve supply of coal. 



Personnel and maintenance: 



1 assistant director. The steadily increasing popularity of the Zoo 

 as a source of both entertainment and education has developed such 

 a volume of requests for information that there is now need for an 

 additional scientist to share the load of answering queries and to as- 

 sist in other administrative work so that the Director and Assistant 

 Director can devote more time to general supervision of the Zoo. 



1 general mechanic to assist the maintenance personnel in what has 

 hitherto been a losing race in trying to keep pace with natural deterio- 

 ration in the structures. 



6 laborers for the mechanical force to replace 6 who were reallo- 

 cated by the Wage Board to the position of truck drivers, thus cutting 

 the laborer force from 13 to 7 — a number way below the minimum 



