KEi'oirr OF Till': secketaky. 35 



jistlu' aid and siqxM'visioii of uiij)aid naturalists. Tliis can notl)C reck- 

 oned npon for the fnture, bnt lias been sanctioned bytlie Reuents as a 

 means to nu'ct the exigency until the need of a larger a|)]>roi)riation can 

 be rei)resented to Congress, and in the meantime the working force has 

 been reduced to an extreme degree, the policing, foi- instance, being now- 

 done by one watchnnm, aided by two employes who are largely engaged 

 w ith othei- duties; and these three men are required to maintain order 

 over an area of 1(!7 acres, visited during each day by thousands of people. 

 Tliese <letails are mentioned in connectn)n with the fact that(unless sonu' 

 small ])urchases of animals made at the outset be excepted) it is under 

 like stringencies of economy in every branch of the administration that 

 the expenses have already amounted, as shown above, to nioie than 

 * 14.000 in six months. 



I can not too em])hatic-ally represent tlie peculiar difficulties that must 

 aris(» in administering an insuflicient approi)riation for the care of liv- 

 ing wild aninmls, unable to care for themselves where they are, if no 

 provision has been nuide by Congress for disposing of them elsewhere. 



In view of increased expenses since the estimates were jnepared, due 

 directly to the unexpectedly great i)opular interest manifested in the 

 park, and to the extraordiimry increase of visitors, [ now feel com- 

 ])elled to either increase the estimate for maintenance to $30,000, to 

 cover further contingencies, or to ask that the total appropriation 

 re(]uested for the park be made in such form as to allow a certain dis- 

 (aetionary power to meet them. If under the circumstances state<l, the 

 latter would, in your judgment, be the more advisable course, I would 

 resi)ectfully ask that you recommend to Congress that the three items of 

 improvements ($1*0,000), l)uildings ($27,000), and maintenance ($20,000) 

 be ai)propriated in one sum of $73,000, as follows: 



Nalional Zoolofiical Park, Smith no )ii(iii I)istiti(tioi) : 



Coutiuuiiiii the constructiDii of lojids, wnlks, ln-i(l.<;'es, water supply, soweni-j^o, iiiid 

 (li:iiiia.nc. anil for uradiug, plaiitin<;-, and otherwise inipvovin.i; the. trronnds. orectin.";, 

 and repairiui;- ltnildin.<;s and inclosures lor aiiinials and for adniinistrativc purposes, 

 eare, snhsisteuee, and traus])ortation of animals and for the pnrehase or exchange of 

 sp(3einiens not otherwise ohtainahle, in(duding salaries or eompensation of all neces- 

 sary employes, and general incidental expenses not otherwise [irox ided for, .^"3,000. 



T have the honor to be, very resi)ectfidly, yours, 



S. P. Langley, 



Secretary. 

 The Se(;retauy of the TiiEASFiiY, 



]V<(slnn(/ton, 1). C. 



ISrotwithstanding tiiis urgent ap))eal, it was louiul, when the sundry 

 civil ai)[)roi)riation bill was rei)orted t(^ the House, that but $20,000 

 was recommended to be appropruitcd for the National Zoological Park. 

 This was di\i<hMl into the following heads: 



Improvements $!•, •'"<) 



Hnildings 10.00(1 



Maintenance 10,000 



'IMie matter seemecl lo me so urgent ami serious as to dennind the 

 immediate attention of the Regents. I therefore called a special tneet- 

 iiig of the lioard and laid the matter before tliem. The result of that 

 meeting will be seen in tlie following letter acUlressed to the President 

 of the United States JSenale. 



