REPORT OF THE SECRETARY 101 



It is interesting to note the increase in the number of visitors to 

 the park in the past 12 j^ears. Following are the attendance records 

 from 1913 to 1921: 



1913 633. 520 



1914 733, 277 



1915 794, 530 



1916 1, 157, 110 



1917 1, 106. SCO 



191S 1, 593, 227 



1919 1, 964, 715 



1920 2, 229, 605 



1921 2, 400, 837 



1922 2, 164, 254 



1923 2, 893, 428 



1924 2, 442, 880 



IMPROVEMENTS 



Work on the new paddocks for hoofed animals near the Connecti- 

 cut Avenue entrance, described full}'^ in the last report, was finished 

 early in the year, and the 11 yards thus provided were all occupied 

 by animals in the fall. The superior arrangement of these paddocks 

 for the care and exhibition of the animals has been very favorably 

 commented upon by officials from other zoological gardens, and the 

 pleasing sight of herds of animals in such large inclosures is greatly 

 admired by visitors. 



In late winter the birds were all removed from the North Ameri- 

 can waterfowl lake and early in the spring the lake was thoroughly 

 cleaned of silt. The work was completed so that the waterfowl were 

 returned before the season for nesting. The sewer from the office 

 and stables was extended to connect with the Rock Creek intercept- 

 ing sewer. A new sidewalk on the east side of the road opposite 

 the restaurant building was completed, and roads, walks, and bridle 

 paths throughout the park were repaired. Two old boilers in the 

 central heating plant were replaced with new boilers of improved 

 pattern, thus considerably increasing the heating capacity of the 

 plant. 



The usual repairs to roofs, gutters and downspouts, fences, and 

 cages were made and much of the ironwork was painted. The old 

 metal awning frames over the walk around the bear cages were 

 removed, since these unsightly frames were no longer needed, the 

 trees now providing ample shade. Work was begun on the ware- 

 house for new or surplus animals, approved in the last plan of opera- 

 tions. This long-needed structure will be completed in the present 

 year. 



The most important improvement of the year has been the com- 

 plete reconstruction of the central refreshment building. The old 

 restaurant was found to be in such bad condition that very little of 

 the material in it could be used, and in order to provide the new 

 structure with suitable foundations it was almost entirely wrecked. 

 The new restaurant is built chiefly of chestnut timbers salvaged 



