72 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SQ@CIETY. 
engineer's most important task during the year has consisted in 
laying out a new service yard, and preparing plans for the large 
Storage Barn and Iron-workers’ Shops already mentioned. 
Our engineer made a careful topographic survey of the un- 
improved area outside the Zoological Park boundary and adja- 
cent to our Southwest Entrance. This was submitted to Park 
Commissioner Henry C. Schrader, with a request that the Park 
Department blast out certain quantities of exposed rock, and 
replace with top soil sufficient for the proper planting of that 
area with trees and shrubs. 
During the year Mr. Beerbower performed all the civil en- 
gineering work in connection with the improvement of Baird 
Court, and the building of the system of conduits for the electric- 
light cables and telephone-wires. 
DEPARTMENT OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND PUBLICATIONS. 
The work of Mr. E. R. Sanborn constantly increases, both 
in volume and in value. In the photographing of Park mam- 
mals, birds and reptiles, his work during 1904 has surpassed 
that of any previous year, and his collection of animal photographs 
has become one of the Society’s valuable scientific possessions. 
These pictures are of constant use in promoting public apprecia- 
tion of the Society, and its work in gathering and exhibiting 
animals. An important series of illustrations of Zoological Park 
animals will soon be published, if possible during 1905, in a 
volume now in preparation by the director, for the special benefit 
of the members of the Zoological Society. 
The time has now arrived when our photographer must be 
supplied with a room and equipment for the printing and toning 
of photographs, and a helper to assist in this line of work. It 
is no longer desirable to have all our photographic prints made 
at a distance of nine miles or more from our photographer’s 
negative-room, with all the delays, breakages and losses that 
now are involved. 
GROUND IMPROVEMENTS. 
For 1904 the list of tasks accomplished under this head is a 
very long one, and it is possible to refer to the various items only 
in the briefest manner. As heretofore, the Commissioner of 
