56 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 
Built at the nursery a large root cellar, and excavated the cellar 
for the new greenhouse. 
Raised and distributed, or stored, the following food for animals: 
About 11 tons of root crops, 2,500 heads of cabbage, 4,500 roots 
of celery, 4,279 heads of lettuce, 2,500 ears of sweet corn, 100 
bundles of corn-stalks, 354 pumpkins, squash and melons, 2 
tons of clover hay, and other vegetables in smaller quantities. 
DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR.—Samuel P. Senior, 
Chief Constructor. 
During the past year, the only important change in the Zoolog- 
ical Park staff was the resignation of Mr. W. H. Puffer, as Chief 
Constructor.* Mr. Samuel P. Senior was immediately appointed 
to fill the vacancy thus caused. Mr. Senior is a graduate of the 
Engineering Department of the Lehigh University (1897), since 
which his experience in engineering, architectural construction, 
road-making, etc., has admirably fitted him for the wide range 
of his duties as Chief Constructor, and the Society is fortunate 
in having secured his services in that position. 
The most important item of work in this department was the 
construction of the Polar Bears’ Den, against the precipitous 
northern face of Rocking Stone Hill. Of all the dens for carniy- 
orous animals ever constructed thus far, this is believed to be the 
most spacious and imposing. Its rear wall is a perpendicular clift 
of pink and gray granite about twenty-five feet in height, so 
smooth and precipitous that the bears cannot climb it. This is 
without bars or overhang at the top. A very spacious, brick- 
lined sleeping den, resembling a cave, has been constructed in the 
southeastern face of the cliff. The floor of the enclosure consists 
chiefly of the natural ledge of rock which was uncovered for the 
purpose. The deep and very roomy swimming pool which was 
blasted out of the solid rock, has proven of incalculable benefit to 
the inmates of the den. The coping which carries the steel cage 
work has been built wholly of weathered granite, and is far more 
pleasing to the eye than the best concrete. Mr. Puffer, and the 
masons working under his direction, are entitled to great credit 
for the skill and judgment displayed in the large amount of rock 
construction involved in this improvement. The steel cage work 
was constructed and erected in a manner highly satisfactory to the 
* Mr. Puffer’s resignation went into effect on Oct. 15, 1900. 
