32 REPOET OF THE SECRETARY. 



A considerable force of men was employed in repairing the roads, 

 gutters, and drains, and in diverting tlie course of the stream so as to 

 prevent further erosion of the banks. The amount expended in par- 

 tially repairing the damage caused by the freshet was nearly $5,0(H). 

 This unexpected demand upon already insufficient appropriations was 

 another cause of embarrassment. 



Influx of visitors. — Public interest in the park has steadily increased 

 from the beginning, and even in its present unfinished state the number 

 of visitors in a single day sometimes reaches from five to ten thousand 

 or more. It was supposed that when the collection should be of notable 

 size, when the buildings were completed, the grounds improved, and 

 the means of access ample, that a large number of visitors would fre- 

 quent the park, but so very large and so immediate an attendance could 

 hardly have been anticipated. It was Ibund that the force of watch- 

 men was quite insufilicient properly to direct and control the throngs of 

 people that on holidays passed through the unfinished houses and along 

 the roads and paths. There are five entrances to guard, and eight sep- 

 arate houses and inclosures where animals and property are kept, so 

 far distant from one another that a watchman or keeper should be 

 stationed at each, while in the larger houses, like the general animal 

 house and the elephant house, it is desirable to have more than one 

 keeper on hand, during the presence of great crowds, botli for the pur- 

 pose of protecting children as well as to prevent mischievous individ- 

 uals from injuring the animals. The services of the keepers are required 

 chietiy in the day, but there must be watchmen to relieve each other 

 during the whole twenty-four hours. Under these circumstances, the 

 appropriation allowed— for the guarding of the animals, the public, and 

 the policing of the 107 acres by day and l)y night— but six men includ- 

 ing both watchmen and keepers. 



Defideney appropriation. — In view of these and other circumstances 

 it seemed proper to ask a measure of relief from Congress. The fol- 

 lowing estimates were accordingly framed and a deficiency appropria- 

 tion asked to meet them : 



JSlatio)ial ZooJo<iical Fnrlc: Tin2)rov€m€nts— 



For contiiiuiiig the coustructiuu of roads, walks, and bridges, and for 

 grading, plantiug. aud otlierwise improviug the grounds of the 

 National Zoological Park, heiug a dcticiency for the fiscal year 

 1^392.. r .- $4,870.81 



Note.— I'liis appropriation is rendered necessary because of the 

 storm of September 5. 1891, which greatly damaged the works of im- 

 provement in the park. The sum asked is for the purpose of reim- 

 bursing the appropriation for the amount actually expended in repair- 

 ing those damages and preventing similar o(xurrouces for the future. 



Xational Zoological Pork : Maintenance, etc. — 



For care, subsistence, and transportation of animals for the National 

 « Zoological Park, and for the purchase of rare specimens not other- 

 wise obtainable, including salaries or compensation of all neces- 

 sary employes and general incidental expenses not otherwise pro- 

 vided for, being a deficiency for the fiscal year 1892 $4, 434. 00 



