SECRETARY'S REPORT 176 



fied to test Park employees and other Smithsonian employees for 

 issuance of Government drivers' permits. 



Sergeant Canter and Private Adams attended the Federal Safety 

 Council's meeting on the use of safety belts in Government vehicles 

 and gave a report to the subcommittee. 



Five fire extinguishers were added to fill the requirements of the 

 District of Columbia Fire Marshall. Directional signs to the extin- 

 guishers have been painted and installed. First-aid boxes have been 

 placed in all Park buildings. Exit signs have been installed in all 

 buildings frequented by the public. A shifting conveyor was made 

 in the mechanical shop for use in moving large animals. Red flags 

 and danger signs have been purchased for use on moving vehicles 

 and when work is being done on trees. Public pay telephones have 

 been relocated to aid the public and relieve inside communications, 

 and 14 new telephones and extensions were added to the Park tele- 

 phone system to improve communications and supply contact in iso- 

 lated areas. 



The police pistol range has been improved, the work being done by 

 the police in their off-duty time with assistance from the grounds and 

 maintenance department. 



An oxygen inhalator was added to the police first-aid room for use 

 in case of heart patients, electrical shock, etc. Dr. Wright instructed 

 the police in its use and operation. 



BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS 



Much of the work accomplished during the past fiscal year was 

 done to insure the safety of visitors, employees, and animals. The 

 District of Columbia Department of Buildings and Grounds, from 

 funds appropriated in FY 60, installed 5,000 feet of standardized 

 visitors' safety fencing in front of many outdoor exhibits. They 

 also repaired the roofs of the small-mammal building, elephant house, 

 and bird house, and the walls and ceiling of the reptile house. The 

 ceiling of the reptile house was sprayed with an accoustical com- 

 pound, wliich reduces noise in the building by at least 50 percent. 

 Because of the bad echo, this house had been extremely noisy when 

 filled with people. 



The new gorilla cage, which was made by remodeling the former 

 gibbon cage, is now adequate for the apes which came here as babies 

 but are now nearly full-grown animals. This cage has electrically 

 controlled doors for the shifting cage, heavy %-inch steel bars, 

 1/4-inch plate glass on the inside quarters, and protective wiring on 

 the outside. The outside enclosure has a roof of corrugated fiberglass 

 panels so that the gorillas can enjoy being outdoors, protected from 

 rain and excessive heat. 



