SO NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
ever, responded well to the continued economies in maintenance 
and manufacture. As noted elsewhere, the soda-water business 
has gained 271 per cent. in net profits during the past five years, 
or from 1904 to 1908, inclusive. 
New Soda Pavilion.—The new soda pavilion near the Aquatic 
Bird House, was completed early in May, 1908. Our original 
plan for this building provided for large doors on all sides, giv- 
ing it an almost unlimited capacity with perfectly free access 
from all quarters; but this arrangement was so changed, and the 
size of the building so much reduced, that it was out of the ques- 
tion to carry out our plan for placing the fountain in the center 
of the building. The first busy day after the fountain was 
opened demonstrated that it was out of the question to handle 
the crowd without opening the building on the eastern side. 
A folding door, twelve feet wide, was opened on the east 
side of the building, and a spacious platform constructed 
under the shade of a large tree, thus permitting patrons to sit 
down outside the building. This fountain is located somewhat 
off the main thoroughfare, and has not as yet done anything like 
the business of the old location near the riding animal stand. 
Ice Cream Plant.—Early in 1908 it was decided to put up a 
new temporary building suitable in form and location, so as to be 
available eventually as a storage shed, but which could first be 
utilized as an ice cream factory. This building is eighteen by 
forty feet, with concrete floor, and is divided into two rooms. 
A great saving in labor has been effected by having the new 
plant on the ground level, instead of in a difficult basement. This 
change made a very satisfactory showing in the profit and loss ac- 
count for the season. 
Boating —During the two years the boating privilege has been 
operated by the Society, it has more than doubled the net profit 
received from the lessee during the entire five years it was oper- 
ated by him. During the season the boating equipment was in- 
creased by the addition of another carload of Mullin’s steel row- 
boats, as well as by twenty-five new flat-bottomed wood boats. 
The entire equipment, including the electric launch, was over- 
hauled, repainted and put in order before the season opened. A 
number of the old wooden boats, purchased from the former les- 
see two years ago, were found not to be worth further repairs and 
were destroyed. We expect, as rapidly as possible, to replace 
this old equipment with the best and safest boats that can be 
obtained. 
On busy days the business for the launch could not be han- 
