66 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



Farms is situated at the northeastern corner of the Buffalo Range. 

 Pending the completion and acceptance of these pavilions, the 

 Zoological Society has provided temporary sentry-boxes for the 

 gatekeepers. 



PUBLIC COMFORT BUILDING. 



On November 2, 1899, a contract was let to T. W. Timpson 

 & Co. for the erection of a public comfort building, quite near the 

 Rocking Stone. In addition to spacious toilet-rooms, it will con- 

 tain an interior dining-room for the serving of cooked meals, and 

 extensive lunch-counters in the two pavilion wings. This struct- 

 ure will be greatly needed as soon as spring opens, and it should 

 be completed by June i, 1900. 



GRADING OF BAIRD COURT. 



A very important contract was let on September 7, 1899, to 

 John C. Rogers, Jr., for $20,756, for the grading of Baird Court, 

 the erection of stone retaining-walls along both sides, all in ac- 

 cordance with an amendment to the original plan, adopted by the 

 Executive Committee on July 12th, filed on that date with the 

 Park Department, and officially approved by it. This work is a 

 necessary preliminary to the erection of the large animal buildings 

 that are to be located in that open space. On October i6th, Mr. 

 Rogers began work with a large force of men and machinery, 

 and by the end of the year had very nearly completed the task. 

 One feature of this work is the excavation and concreting of a 

 pool for sea lions, situated in the centre of the Court, which will 

 be ready for use early in the coming spring. 



EXCAVATION OF COPE LAKE AND ELK POND. 



Both these features are included in the contract with J. C. 

 Rogers, Jr., mentioned above. The Elk Pond excavation was 

 completed in October. Work on Cope Lake has been in almost 

 constant progress for several months, and will be completed early 

 in the spring. The Society will then take up promptly the work 

 of finishing and seeding the banks of both these lakes, and con- 

 fidently expects to have them in satisfactory condition by the time 

 the mild weather of May brings the usual throng of visitors. 



