62 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL> SOGIETY: 
GROUND IMPROVEMENTS UNDER THE DIRECTION OF ZOOLOGICAL 
PARK OFFICERS. 
Hermann W. Merkel, Chief Constructor and Forester. 
The work accomplished under this head marked an important 
advance toward the final completion of the internal improvements 
of the Zoological Park. Several forces of men, under experienced 
foremen, were throughout the working season diligently em- 
ployed in the very numerous tasks of miscellaneous construction 
which were of such a nature that they could not satisfactorily be 
performed by contract. 
Completion of the Service Road.—The long-contemplated sec- 
tion of the Service Road between the Rocking-Stone and the 
Buffalo Entrance was at last undertaken, and carried to satisfac- 
tory completion. It is by far the best piece of road-making in the 
Park. In order to carry the route down the steep eastern slope of 
Rocking-Stone Hill, it was necessary to run through the Buffalo 
Corrals very near the north end of the Buffalo House. The 
engineering was very satisfactorily accomplished by Mr. Beer- 
bower. To prevent washing on the steep hillside, flat concrete 
gutters, with a raised outside rim, were combined with tar- 
surfaced Telford macadam, and the finished result may well be 
taken as a model for park roads in such situations. Naturally, the 
new connecting link is of great advantage to the business interests 
of the Park, and in addition to that, it is used by a majority of our 
visitors, in preference to the stone steps near by. 
The Buffalo Corrals—The invasion of the original Buffalo 
Corrals rendered necessary a complete remodeling of the accom- 
modations for our American bison—now numbering thirty-four 
head. To meet the new conditions, on a permanent basis, a spa- 
cious new corral and two small yards for ill-tempered individuals, 
were constructed immediately south of the old corral, and in front 
of the long, open shed hurriedly erected in 1905. Around these 
enclosures, and also around what remained of the old corrals, new 
fences were erected, on heavy steel posts. The unpaved surface 
of all these corrals and yards was covered with Telford macadam, 
thoroughly drained, and the whole system of yards was put on a 
first class and permanent basis. At the same time, advantage was 
taken of the opportunity to erect a chute in which to capture and 
crate animals that are to be shipped away. 
Yards Around the Small-Deer House-——Owing to the many 
difficulties presented by the slope of the ground surrounding the 
Small-Deer House, it was deemed advisable to follow the same 
