THIRD ANNUAL REPORT. 47 



THE CITY S WORK. 



The work to be done by the Department of Parks under the 

 head of Ground Improvements began on August 29th in excavat- 

 ing for the Aquatic Rodents' Pond. The pond was staked out, and 

 levels given, by the Society's surveyor, and the work was con- 

 ducted throughout to meet the Society's wishes. On account of the 

 presence of a remarkable terminal moraine, of glacial bowlders, 

 at the north end of the pond, clearly marking the southern end 

 of a glacier, it was necessary to alter slightly the intended shape 

 of the excavation in order to avoid an expense which would have 

 made the pond almost impossible. As a result, the shape of the 

 completed pond will be almost identical with its outline as laid 

 down provisionally on the preliminary plan of the Park. Owing 

 to the soft nature of the ground, the excavation of this pond was 

 more difficult and expensive than had been anticipated. Its com- 

 pletion will consume all of the $5,000 allotted for pond excavating, 

 leaving the Elks' Pond to be provided for from sOme other source. 



Cope Lake has been partly excavated by the contractor for Pel- 

 ham Avenue, who required earth in order to meet the terms of 

 his contract. The remainder of this very important piece of work, 

 without which the north end of the Park will be exceedingly un- 

 sightly, will have to be paid for out of the item of $10,000 for ex- 

 cavating that has been allowed by the Board of Estimate in the 

 appropriation of $63,000 recently granted. 



By great good fortune, Pelham Parkway has recently been im- 

 proved all the way through Bronx Park, and our northern 

 boundary boulevard is now handsomely and permanently com- 

 pleted. The general level of the roadway has been raised about 

 five feet. It is now possible for the Society to make aU its pro- 

 jected improvements in the northern end of the Park at an early 

 date and give them a permanent character. The view of the Zoo- 

 logical Park from Pelham Parkway promises to be very fine. 



It is almost unnecessary to state that the amount of filling, grad- 

 ing, and modelling to be done in the northern end of the Zoological 

 Park is really great, and it would be very much to the interest of 

 the city, financially, if the work necessary could be performed by 

 a selected force of laborers and teams working under the direction 

 of our own foremen. 



A very important piece of work to be done by the city forth- 



