REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 107 



Office building. — The old building in which the office of the park is placed 

 has been, up to the present time, in a very ruinous state. In order to 

 restore it to something like its pristine condition, the entrance hall and 

 large room connecting with it were finished with a brick floor and suitable 

 windows, the entrance hall on the second floor repaired, one of the chim- 

 neys entirely rebuilt, and an extra flue constructed. Several bookcases 

 were built in the library room, furniture was purchased, and several small 

 alterations made to the outside of the building. The total cost of this 

 work was $2,200. 



Aquarium. — It being evident that the present temporary aquarium 

 building can be maintained in proper condition but a short time, it was 

 thought necessary to prepare plans for a new and much more satisfactory 

 structure. These plans, which are very elaborate and complete, were 

 prepared by Messrs. Hornblower & Marshall, at a cost of $500. 



Bridge near Quarry road entrance. — Under the appropriations for the 

 District of Columbia, Congress made the following appropriation: 



For construction of a bridge across Rock Creek on the line of the road- 

 way from Quarry road entrance, under the direction of the Engineer 

 Commissioner of the District of Columbia, twenty-two thousand dollars, 

 one-half of which sum shall be paid out of the revenues of the District of 

 Columbia. (Sundry civil act June 6, 1900.) 



In accordance with this provision, a bridge of concrete, made according 

 to the " Melan " system, was constructed in the Zoological Park, taking 

 the place of the wooden bridge of a composite character which was built 

 when the park was first established. 



Incidental to the construction of this bridge, the water main that was 

 hung upon the old structure had to be removed and relaid at the bottom 

 of the creek. The cost of this work was $450, which was defrayed from 

 the appropriation for the National Zoological Park. 



New paddocks. — Increase of the collection has made it necessary to con- 

 struct several new paddocks during the year, one being for the Rocky 

 Mountain sheep, another for moose, another for the Newfoundland caribou 

 and mule deer. 



It was found necessary to separate the buffalo paddocks by double 

 partitions, in order that the males may not light through the partition 

 fences. 



Water pipes were laid to the camel paddocks, and also to provide pools 

 and shower baths for the bison and other animals during the healed 

 months of summer. 



Repairs to boundary fence. — The fence which had been removed along the 

 west and south side of the park, to allow grading and improvement of 

 roads in the vicinity, has been reset during the year and a considerable 

 amount of repairs have been made to the fence in other portions of the 

 park. The total cost of these repairs was $300. 



Macadam walk. — Many visitors to the park enter from the western side. 

 The board walk which had been constructed to lead from Connecticut 

 avenue extended to the central p< irtion of the park, through a shady ravine, 

 became so decayed and unsafe that it was necessary to replace it, Jt was 

 removed and a macadam walk laid. Other walks of less extent were 



