38 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



The appropriation made for tlie park for the fiscal year ending June 

 30, 1894, was in the following terms: 



For continniiig- the construction of roads, walks, bridges, water sup- 

 ply, sewerage and drainage, and for grading, i)lanting, and otherwise 

 improving the grouuds, erecting and rejiairiug buildings and inclosures 

 for the animals, and for administrative purposes, care, subsistence, and 

 transportation of animals, including salaries and compensation of all 

 necessary employees, and general incidental expenses not otherwise 

 provided for, fifty thousaud dollars, one-half of which sum shall be ])aid 

 from the revenues of the District of Columbia and the other half from 

 theTrea.sury of the United States; and a report in detail of the expenses 

 of the National Zoological Park shall be made to Congress at the begin- 

 ning of each regular session. 



By fjxr the greater portion of this appropriation was expended for 

 food for the maintenance of the animals, and for keeping in proper care 

 and condition the buildings and accessories. The sum remaining, 

 being insufficient for new work of any great extent, has been expended 

 in necessary improvements, and in building roads and x^aths to the 

 different buildings and shelters. 



The bridge near the Quarry-Road entrance has been somewhat 

 improved by the addition of footways and copings. This structui-e is, 

 however, far from satisfactory, liaving been built from a limited appro- 

 priation at a time when it was absolutely necessary to cross the stream 

 to reach the central portion of the park. 



Certain questions involving the access of the public to the park, are 

 still pending and are connected with the plan of the suburban roads 

 now under consideration by the Commissioners of the District of 

 Columbia. The street railways are by no means convenient, as the 

 Fourteenth street line is over half a mile distant from the park, and the 

 Rock Creek Railway, although passing by the western gate of the jiark, 

 delivers its passengers at a distance almost as great from the buildings 

 where the animals are kept. The plan for the extension of the streets 

 of the n)istrict, includes a carriage road outside the park from the 

 point where the Adams Mill Road leaves it to Kennesaw Avenue. 

 When this is once established the strip of ground between it and 

 the park boundary should be purchased and added to the park. 

 This will be of advantage in many ways, first, for seclusion by pre- 

 venting private property from abutting upon the park and second, as 

 making more secure the cliff" in the vicinity of the bear pits, which has 

 always been a menace and a serious disadvantage because of its prox- 

 imity to the park line, and the impossibility of properly treating it. 



Further steps will probably be soon taken toward establishing 

 entrances at the southern end of the park. If this be done it will prob- 

 ably be necessary to improve the old Adams Mill Road, and to build 

 a second bridge crossing from the promontory where the office now 

 stands to the meadow near the animal house. 



