THIRD ANNUAL REPORT. 33 



The present operations of the City in providing ground improve- 

 ments may briefly be summarized as follows : 



Walks of stone and gravel, from 12 to 20 feet in width, '^^ Contract 



134,000 square feet I let on 



Croton water pipes, to reach collections to be installed / Dec. 22, 



in 1899 I 1898, 



Sewers leading from first buildings, aviaries, and dens , ■ to 



Service road of Telford macadam from Southern 1 Bart. 



Boulevard to Reptile House \ Dunn, 



Drainage as necessary for roads, walks, and buildings . | for 



Macadamizing corrals for large animals / $33,375.00 



Fencing for animal ranges, corrals, and boundary of 

 Park, contract let on March 9 to the Page Woven 



Wire Fence Co. (work to be completed by July i) 10,802.50 



Expended to date on pond excavation about 4,500.00 



To be expended on pond excavation 500.00 



Balance available for restaurant, entrances, workshops, 



engineering, etc 13,625.00 



In view of the fact that no extensive park improvements can be 

 made by the municipaHty without the lapse of several months spent 

 in preparation therefor, on January 17th the Society presented to 

 the Board of Estimate and Apportionment a request that the re- 

 maining $63,000 be appropriated and made available. In response 

 to a request from the Mayor for specific information regarding the 

 amount expended by the Zoological Society, and its obHgations on 

 contracts for work in progress, a schedule was submitted on March 

 7th, showing all contracts and requisitions either completed or in 

 force for the Society's work in the Zoological Park. Immediately 

 following the receipt of this schedule, the Board of Estimate and 

 Apportionment adopted a resolution authorizing the Comptroller 

 to issue bonds of the City of New York to the amount of $63,000 

 *■ for the purpose of providing means for the improvement of that 

 portion of Bronx Park allotted and set apart to the New York 

 Zoological Society and for the construction and equipment of 

 buildings thereon." 



The schedule of estimates submitted to the Board of Estimate, 

 showing the purposes to which it is proposed to devote this fund, 

 and to which no objection was offered by the Board, is as follows: 



