FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT. 37 
ficiency would have been much larger but for the fact that much 
of the grading and forestry work was legitimately charged to 
the Ground Improvement Fund of $125,000 provided for under 
Chapter 510, laws of 1897. 
It must be remembered that we have the care of a large Park, 
as well as of the buildings and animals. The Society estimated 
$80,000 as the fund needed for I9go1, in order to meet the in- 
creased demand for food, fuel, additional keepers, etc. The 
amount appropriated by the City was $65,000. We trust that 
this fund will enable the Committee, by the greatest economy, to 
maintain the Park on its present limited scale without a serious 
deficiency, but a much larger amount will be needed in 1902 to 
meet the necessities of the new buildings. 
The expenditures on account of maintenance during 1900 were 
as follows: 
Paid from City Fund: 
Heresdlaties and IabOE, 5 3 o.-5c6s + e214" $30,846 31 
For food for animals, fuel, and miscel- 
lanicous supplies. 54s sie Sem ee ss £5,343 @2 
AICYSET Mee i Age he RO ence A $46,189 33 
Maintenance appropriation for the year. 40,000 00 
Deficiency paid by the Society.......... $6,189 33 
In order to meet current maintenance, bills, and expenditures 
from the Ground Improvement Fund of the City, before the same 
are repaid by the City (a period of from four to eight weeks), 
a working capital of about $18,000 is needed. This explains the 
loan of $17,000 and interest mentioned in the Treasurer’s Re- 
port. Similar loans must be secured from time to time to enable 
the Society to use its Park Improvement Fund for construction, 
and the purchase of animals. 
APPROPRIATIONS AND EXPENDITURES BY THE CITY FOR 
PERMANENT IMPROVEMENTS. 
An appropriation of $300,000 was secured for the Society by 
the passage of the bill in the Legislature of New York, now 
known as Chapter 432, Laws of 1900, which became a law on 
April 13, 1900, a copy of which is attached to this report. Under 
