38 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



THE YEAR 1 899. 



Under these circumstances, the Society apphed, in 1898, for 

 $60,000 with which to maintain the Park during the year 1899. 

 One-half of this amount, $30,000, was granted to the Society for 

 " six months," as the City did not anticipate that the Park would 

 require a maintenance fund before the first of June. As a matter 

 of fact, expenditures from this fund became necessary immedi- 

 ately after the first of January, and the amount required increased 

 each month for the pay of the necessary force of gardeners, watch- 

 men, laborers, and other employees which had to be provided. 

 With the arrival of live animals, food and attendance had to be 

 at once provided. From May onward, animals arrived continu- 

 ously, and the maintenance fund for 1899 was exhausted soon 

 after the first of November of that year. 



At no time was the Park closed to the public, and the Society 

 submitted to considerable inconvenience and hinderance rather 

 than prohibit the public from watching the progress of the work 

 and inspecting such animals as had been received. The animals 

 were put on exhibition as rapidly as quarters could be provided 

 for them, and, long before the ofificial opening, crowds of people 

 visited the Bear Dens, the Buffalo Ranges, and the installations 

 of the various deer. 



The appropriation for 1899 was thus exhausted early in No- 

 vember, and the Society maintained the Park at its own expense 

 during the months of November and December, at a cost of 

 $7,038.61. 



THE YEAR I9OO. 



During the summer of 1899 the Society applied for a main- 

 tenance of $70,000 for the year 1900, including $10,000 for the 

 care of the grounds, for forestry, and for planting. A forestry 

 appropriation was rendered necessary by the large amount of work 

 absolutely required to save many of the trees from dying through 

 decay, drought, thin soil, and other causes. The fine forest on 

 the east side of the river has been entirely neglected. Much work 

 has been done on the forest west of the Bronx River, resulting in 

 great benefit; but work of this description does not make much 

 impression, as its effects are not easily seen and appreciated by 

 the public. This item of $10,000, however, did not meet with the 



