38 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



A map of tlic park, showing the location and quantity of each lot, 

 was liled in the public records of the l^istrict of ('olumbia. On exam 

 ination of the list it will be seen that for 131.14 acres an agreement 

 was elfected with the owners as to the sum to be paid. For 34.49 

 acres no such agreement could be made, and the Con) mission therefore 

 took the course prescribed by the act of IMarch 2, 1889, for this con- 

 tingency, and i)etitioned the Supreme Court of the District to assess 

 the value of the land. This was done by three appraisers appointed 

 by the Court, and the finding of the api)raisers was approved by the 

 President of the United States. At the close of the year title deeds had 

 already i)assed for the greater portion of the i)roi)('rty, • 

 The site thus selected is, it is believed, admirably suited for the purpose 

 for which it is designed. Situated at a convenient distance from the 

 city in a region of remarkable natural beauty, it has a surface of great 

 variety, offering unusual advantages of varied exposure for animals re- 

 quiring different treatment. While some portions still retain the origi- 

 nal forest, others are cleared or covered by a de^se second growth of 

 pine, excellent for cover and producing conditions similar to those of 

 the natural haunts of many of the animals it is proi)osed to preserve. 

 An abundant sui)ply of water is furnished lo the lower portions by Rock 

 Creek, a small perennial stream that during freshets swells to consid- 

 erable size, and at intervals of years, to rare but destructive floods. 

 A number of small runlets or '' branches " fall into the creek giving an 

 effective drainage to all i)arts of the park. The system of water ways 

 has for the most part been cut by erosion, so that the hill-sides and 

 valleys usually present smooth, rounded slopes, practicable forroads and 

 walks; yet this is agreeably varied at several places by an outcroi)piug 

 of the underlying rock, giving a somewhat bolder character. 



In the Appendix will be found a map showing the situation of the 

 Zoological Park with reference to the city of Washington, and follow- 

 ing it a second map giving, on a somewhat larger scale, the outline of 

 the park and its principal topographical features. 



Having obtained the site it became necessary to procure means for 

 the organization and maintenance of the park. The Commission ac- 

 cordingly, under date of January IG, 1890, addressed a letter to Con- 

 gress, concluding with the following words: 



Before the expiration of the present fiscal year the Zoological Park 

 Commission will have comi)leted the duties with which it was charged 

 by the act of Congress which called it into existence, and the title to 

 the lands it has purchased will be vested in the United States. Pend- 

 ing the coiiiph'tion of the condemnation proceedings now in progress, 

 and the submission of a final report, it is extremely desirable that Con- 

 gress should emu'.t further legislation in regard to the park. The Com- 

 mission has no aiitliority to put up fences and lay out roads or grounds, 

 or to erect buildings, nor is it even certain that it has the right toac- 

 <'ept donations. The park is declared by Congiess to be " for the ad- 

 vancement of science aiul the instruction'and recreation of the people." 

 In the construction of i)onds and lakes, and the erection of inclosures 



