72 REPOET OF THE SECRETARY. 



Exchange ivith New Zealand government. — The New Zealand government arranged, 

 through the President, to obtain elk from the herd in the National Zoological Park 

 in exchange for other animals. Ten elk are to be sent, and will be forwarded in the 

 autumn of 1904, after the horns are hard and the young have been weaned. 



Readjustment of boundaries. — The desirability of having the park bordered by high- 

 ways along the eastern and western sides has been urged at various times and brought 

 to the attention of Congress. A bill for the establishment of highways adjacent to 

 the park was submitted by the Commissioners of the District of Columbia during the 

 session of 1903-4, and passed as given below: 



"AN ACT For the opening of connecting highways on the east and west sides of the zoological park, 



District of Columbia. 



' ^Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America 

 in Congress assembled, That within six months after the passage of this act the Com- 

 missioners of the District of Columbia be, and they are hereby, authorized and 

 directed to institute in the supreme court of the District of Columbia, sitting as a 

 district court, by petition, particularly dei?cribing the lands to be taken, a proceeding 

 in rem to condemn the land that may be necessary for connecting the north end of 

 Adams Mill road in Lanier Heights with south end of Park roacl in Ingleside by a 

 highway fifty feet wide along or near the eastern boundary of the zoological park, 

 also for connecting Cathedral avenue with Klingle road by a highway fifty feet wide 

 along or near the western boundary of the zoological park, all in accordance with 

 plans on file in the office of the Engineer Commissioner, District of Columbia. ' ' Public 

 act, April 28, 1904. 



The estimates for the park for the year 1904-5, as submitted to Congress, contained 

 the following item: 



"Readjustment of boundaries, National Zoological Park: Acquirement of the 

 tract of land lying between the present eastern boundary of the National Zoological 

 Park and the new highway to be established by the District of Columbia from 

 Adams Mill road to Kenesaw avenue, and also of the tract lying between the present 

 western boundary of said park and the new highway to be established by the Dis- 

 trict of Columbia from Cathedral avenue to Klingle road, sixty thousand dollars; 

 and said land, when acquired, to become a part of the National Zoological Park." 



Congress took no action upon this estimate. 



Exhibit at Louisiana Purchase Exposition. — In view of the importance of bringing 

 before the general public the aims and objects of the park it was thought proper to 

 prepare an exhibit of some extent for the Louisiana Purchase Exposition. This 

 consisted of a display of living birds confined in a flying cage occupying a ground 

 space of 84 by 228 feet, and from 50 to 55 feet in height. It was constructed by the 

 St. Paul Foundry Company, according to plans prepared by the Supervising Architect 

 of the Treasury Department after preliminary sketches furnished by the park. The 

 cost of the cage was about $15,000. Its frame consists of light steel arches, covered 

 by a wire netting with three-fourths-inch mesh. A longitudinal partition divides 

 the cage into two parts, and a passage for the public 14 feet wide extends from end 

 to end. 



One side is occupied mainly by marsh and water birds and has two swimming pools, 

 each from 50 to 60 feet long. The other side is occupied mainly by song birds and 

 small species noted for bright plumage, and has two smaller pools with a streamlet 

 of water trickling from one to the other, a distance of 90 feet, through a series of 

 small, shallow basins that afford drinking and bathing places for the little birds. 

 This side includes several moderate-sized growing trees which were left in their 

 natural situation. Besides these, many small trees and shrubs were planted and the 

 surface was sodded. The cage was located in a natural grove of trees not far from 

 the Government building in the exposition grounds. All ground improvements, 

 including water supply, etc., were furnished by the exposition company at its own 

 expense. 



The cost of stocking and maintaining the cage was defrayed from the Government 



