SECRETARY'S REPORT 155 



CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS 



Money in this year's Smithsonian Institution Appropriation Act 

 amounted to $1,275,000 for the capital improvement program at the 

 National Zoological Park. A portion of this is being used for the ad- 

 vance planning of the multiclimate house and aquatic mammal exhibit, 

 preliminary studies of the sewage system, and detailed planning for 

 the Connecticut Avenue entrance, hardy hoofed-stock and delicate 

 hoofed-stock enclosures, and additional parking lots. A portion of the 

 remainder is being used to construct new deer pens and new parking 

 lots near the Connecticut Avenue entrance. The balance will be com- 

 bined with fiscal 1965 money to construct the hardy hoofed-stock and 

 delicate hoofed-stock exhibits. A portion of the money was used to 

 build an incinerator between the shop and the heating plant. Con- 

 struction of the Connecticut Avenue entrance and the hardy hoofed- 

 stock exhibit have been combined with the delicate hoofed stock in 1965 

 because of delays in design due to refinements and improvements sug- 

 gested by the Fine Arts Commission. 



During this fiscal year work continued on the remodeling of the 

 birdhouse and construction of a new flight cage. It is hoped that con- 

 struction will be finished and the house stocked and opened to the pub- 

 lic in late December or early January. 



The relocation of the east- west access road from Connecticut Avenue 

 to Beach Drive was completed and opened to the public. The elephant 

 house parking lot is utilized by the visitors. Through traffic in the 

 center of the Zoo has been completely eliminated except for Zoo vehi- 

 cles. The removal of intrusive and dangerous automobile traffic has 

 created a more leisurely and parklike atmosphere in the heart of the 

 Zoo. As with any change, there have been some objections from the 

 public; however, it is gratifying that many more compliments have 

 been received than complaints. 



The incinerator was constructed by the Edrow Engineering Co. 

 It is now possible for the National Zoological Park to destroy com- 

 pletely all combustible waste material on the Zoo grounds. A long- 

 standing source of embarrassingly poor housekeeping has been 

 eliminated. 



National Capital Parks, Department of the Interior, has com- 

 pleted the first phase of the relocation of Beach Drive, which consists 

 of a tunnel under "Administration Kill," retaining walls, a roadbed, 

 and new bridle trail on the east side of Rock Creek. 



The Department of Sanitary Engineering of the District of Co- 

 lumbia installed a new 60- inch relief interceptor sewer beginning in 

 the Zoo downstream from the wolves, near "Purcell Rock," and con- 

 tinuing along the west bank of the creek adjacent to an already existing 

 sewer line crossing Beach Drive within the Zoo just below the lower 



