REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



37 



the people, and thus becomes a fitting object for the care of the Smith- 

 souiau Institution. 



In my lleport for hist year the preliminary steps for the establish- 

 ment of a Zoological Park in the District of Oohimbia were detailed. 

 The District of Columbia bill, which received the approval of the Presi- 

 dent on March 2, 1889, contained an appropriation of $200,000 for the 

 purchase of the land and established a Commission, composed of the 

 S''-cretary of the Interior, the President of the Board of Commissioners 

 of the District of Columbia, and the Secretary of the Smithsonian In- 

 stitution, for the purpose of selecting and acquiring a suitable site upon 

 Rock Creek. 



The utmost care was exercised to keep within the limits of this appro- 

 priation, and the Commission is even able to turn into the Treasury a 

 small balance npon the completion of its work. To accomplish this, 

 however, it was necessary to leave out a strip of land of about 8 acres 

 on tlje east side of the creek, which it seemed to the Commission very 

 desirable to secure, and I venture to express the hope that Congress 

 will see fit to make special provision for the purchase of the property at 

 an early day. 



From a commercial point of view the enterprise has already proved 

 a most successful one, the land having risen in value since its condem- 

 nation from 200 to 300 percent. 



At the beginning of the fiscal year the ground had yet to be acquired. 

 A careful consideration of the property in the neighborhood of Rock" 

 Creek, described in the act of March 2, 18S9, had been made and an 

 area of 106.48 acres selected.* The difficulty of establishing the bound- 

 aries of certain tracts described in the older deedscauseda long delay, 

 but the survey was finally completed on the 21st of November, 1889. 



* The followiug list shows the tracts ia detail and the amount eventually to be 

 paid for each : 



Land for the National Zoological Park. 



Owner. 



Mis.s A. E.J. Evans 



H. D. Walbridge 



WotxUey Park Syiidicati! 



Henry C. Holt 



Mrs. M. Cauey 



Mrs. E. L. Dunn fi oJ 



Pacificus Ord 



J.P.Klinjih! 



Uniim Penevolent Association. .. 



E.E.Haydeu 



McPIierson & Finley 



James Kervand 



United States (part Quarry road) 



Total 



How obtained. 



By agreement. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 

 By condemnation. 



Do- 

 Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



Do. 



