74 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOGIERY: 
increase in 1906 over the previous year, all branches of the Privi- 
lege Department showed a gratifying increase in volume, and 
a corresponding increase in profits. For several years the privi- 
leges have been much in need of further development, and the 
Society has only been awaiting the arrival of a more favorable 
period in construction work to put them upon a new and better 
basis, fully up to the general standard set for the Zoological Park 
as a whole. 
Several important steps in this direction will be taken during 
the coming season. The old, obsolete and unsightly soda foun- 
tains, which heretofore have been leased by the year, are to be 
replaced through the purchase of the latest and most improved 
Twentieth Century Sanitary fountains. For the purpose of mak- 
ing these and other improvements, all of which will add largely to 
the net income from privileges, the Executive Committee has 
authorized the expenditure of a considerable sum out of the net 
profits accumulated during the past season. The privileges, if 
legitimately developed within the limits demanded for the con- 
venience and accommodation of visitors, will, we predict, within 
a year or two put the Animal Fund on a basis enabling the 
Society to purchase many desirable, rare, and expensive animals 
when offered without drawing from funds that should be devoted 
to other purposes. 
Boat House.—Early in the year 1906 it was found that it would 
be impossible to get the Boat House completed in time to open 
it this season, and the boating privilege was therefore re-let to 
the former lessee for another year, for the sum of $1,525. Work 
on the building was begun during the summer, and proceeded 
rapidly. At the close of the year it was practically finished, and 
will be turned over to the Society about March Ist. 
It has been decided to open this building in April, 1907, with 
a combined restaurant and lunch-room service. The north 
room will be fitted up as a dining-room, with a seating capacity of 
about one hundred. In the south room, adjoining the serving- 
room, a popular-priced lunch room will be opened. This will 
comfortably accommodate about eighty persons. The large fire- 
place at one end of this room will be a pleasing and attractive 
feature, especially in winter, when the lunch-room will be kept 
open for the accommodation of skaters, and visitors to the Park 
generally. 
In the extreme south end of the building, there are two serving- - 
rooms, in one of which there is to be a lunch counter, and in 
the other a modern soda fountain of large capacity. 
