80 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



MAINTENANCE. 



Hermann \V. Alerkel, Chief Forester; E. H. Costain, Assistant Forester 

 and Captain-of-the-Watch. 



Henceforth we may expect an increase in the cost of maintain- 

 ing our many buildings in a proper condition. While all of them 

 are yet comparatively new, it must be remembered that very few 

 public buildings are subject to a strain of daily use as severe as 

 that which falls upon the animal buildings in our Park. The 

 high temperature necessary for the comfort of some of the living 

 creatures, the wear and tear caused by the great multitude of 

 visitors, the constant disinfecting and scrubbing of cages and 

 floors, and the great humidity of the interiors generally, all tend 

 to disintegrate even buildings of the highest class. 



The " hurry " calls on the construction force, because of the 

 fact that some beast is trying to get itself or others into trouble 

 by destroying its " environment," or by attacking its nearest 

 neighbors, have become more frequent than ever. 



Last year the entire floor of the Reptile House became so 

 deeply worn by the feet of visitors that it required a new surface 

 of concrete. The replastering of the interior walls of the larger 

 serpent cages was carried to completion, and the hot-water sup- 

 ply system was given a thorough overhauling. The entire hard- 

 wood finish in this building received several coats of varnish. 

 The slate and also the glass roofs received a much-needed over- 

 hauling; and a new copper gutter, with leaders, was installed 

 along the north side of the building. 



At the Aquatic Bird House the hot-water heating boiler was 

 taken apart, and four eld sections replaced with new ones. The 

 copper roof, which had become very leaky, was repaired, and new 

 leaders were supplied. The outside cages of this building re- 

 ceived a thorough overhauling. The landscape background of 

 the inside cage was very successfully repainted by Mr. E. A. Cos- 

 tain, and the entire interior and exterior of this building was over- 

 hauled and repainted. 



At the Lion House the cage gutters were relined with sheet 

 lead sunk into the cage flooring, and steel plates were put in 

 place at the feeding doors. Some repairs were also made to the 

 cage floors. The entire cage-work, inside and out, was scraped 

 free from rust and given two coats of paint. The studio, feed- 

 room, women's rest room, and the artists' room were all painted 

 and varnished. Extra heating pipes were supplied in the toilet 



