REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 39 



and buikliDgs for the purposes of zoological science, a stage will soou 

 be reached where scientilic direction seems obviously desirable; and it 

 is respectfully represented to Congress that any means for laying out 

 and improving the grounds can be most advantageously used in view 

 of the purpose of Congress as to the ultimate disposition of the park 

 now when the foundations of its luture usefulness are being laid. If 

 the very considerable collection of living animals now in the custody of 

 the Smithsonian Institution is to form the nucleus of the zoological park 

 collection its transter should be effected by legislative enactment and 

 suitable measures taken for its maintenance. The Commission is of the 

 opinion that the collection referred to should, with the consent of the 

 Regents of the Institution, be transferred to the Zoological Park as soon 

 as possible after the Government takes full i)ossession of the site. 



John W. Noble, 

 Secretary of the Interior^ 

 J. W. Douglass, 

 Brest. Board Com. Dis. Col., 

 S. P. Langley, 

 Secretary Smithsonian Institution, 

 Commissioners for the establishment of a Zoological 



Park in the District of Columbia. 



After thorough consideration the following act was passed placing 

 the park under the direction of the Regents of the Smithsonian Institu- 

 tion, and transferring to it the collection formerly under the charge of 

 the United States National Museum : 



AN ACT for the orgauizatiou, improvement, and maintenance of the National Zoolog- 

 ical Park. 



Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United 

 States of America in Congress assembled, That the one-half of the fol- 

 lowing sums named, resi:)ectively, is hereby appropriated out of any 

 money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, and the other half 

 out of the revenues of the District of Columbia, for the organization, 

 improvement, and maintenance of the National Zoological Park, to be 

 expended under the direction of the Regents of the Smithsonian Insti- 

 tution, and to be drawn on their requisition and disbursed by the dis- 

 bursing officer for said Institution: 



For the shelter of animals, fifteen thousand dollars. 



For shelter-barns, cages, fences, and iiiclosures, and other provisions 

 for the custody of animals, nine thousand dollars. 



For repairs to the Holt mansion, to make the same suitable for occu- 

 pancy, and for office furniture, two thousand dollars. 



For the creation of artificial ponds and other provisions for aquatic 

 animals, two thousand dollars. 



For water supply, sewerage, and drainage, seven thousand dollars. 



For roads, walks, and bridges, fifteen thousand dollars. 



For miscellaneous supplies, materials, and sundr^'^ incidental expen- 

 ses not otherwise provided for, five thousand dollars. 



For current expenses, including the maintenance of collections, food 

 supplies, salaries of all necessary employees, and the acquisition and 

 transportation of specimens, thirty-seven thousand dollars. 



Sec. '2. That the National Zoological Park is hereby placed under the 

 directionsof the Regents of the Smithsonian Institution, who are author- 

 ized to transfer to it any living specimen, whether of animals or plants, 

 now or hereafter in their charge, to accept gifts for the park at their 



