REPORT OP THE SECRETARY 49 



efforts were devoted to the finishing iip of the jobs that had been 

 undertaken under the C. W. A. and on Juno 30 all had been com- 

 pleted or practically completed with the exception of the lion house 

 floor, the mountain-sheep mountain, and a small stone house for 

 hardy animals. 



Much ground improvement work was carried on. In the spring 

 the grounds improvement work was continued by the making of fills, 

 siding banks that were eroding, planting of grass seed, shrubs, and 

 trees, and a cleaning of the lawns of weeds that had become estab- 

 lished over a long period of years and were doing serious damage. 



Much still remains to be done in the way of repairs and small im- 

 provements such as the reroofing or rebuilding of small structures, 

 replacement of paddock fences that are in bad condition, construction 

 of pools, paddocks, and cages, and miscellaneous repairs. 



All District officials with whom contact was had in the course of 

 the C. W. A. and Emergency Relief operations have been most help- 

 ful and relations have been pleasant at all times, and to their splendid 

 cooperation a large proportion of the success attained in the work can 

 be attributed. At the close of the fiscal year it is the understanding 

 that a limited amount of labor will continue to be available to the 

 park, and the plans contemplate a continuance of similar activities to 

 such extent as the character of labor and amount of materials available 

 will permit. 



Through the kind help of Capt. H. F. Clark and other District 

 officials, steel was obtained from the Aqueduct Bridge that was being 

 demolished, second-hand bricks from old buildings being razed, and 

 new bricks from the Occoquan plant of the District. A number of 

 trees and shrubs were acquired through the kindness of Clifford 

 Lanham, superintendent of trees and parking. 



NEEDS or THE ZOO 



These remain as in previous years. No important construction 

 of exhibition buildings has been possible. 



The park itself is second to none in natural beauty. The two good 

 buildings, the bird house and the reptile house, are widely and favor- 

 ably known throughout the United States and, in fact, among zoo 

 enthusiasts throughout the world. The other buildings are quite as 

 widely known and the subject of unfavorable criticism by all who have 

 interest in and knowledge of zoological parks. 



It has been shown that the number of visitors has greatly increased. 

 They come from every State in the Union, and from throughout the 

 world. It is felt that the interest in the National Zoo and the benefit 

 derived from it by these visitors warrants the completion of the entire 

 program that has been submitted year after year. 



