58 INEW YORK “ZOOLOGICAL SOCCER. 
to the surveying, platting, and profiling of various trial lines for 
the eastern extension of the Motor Road, a section of which seems 
to present unusual difficulties in connection with other features of 
the Park. 
IMPROVEMENTS AND EXPENDITURES BY THE PARK DEPARTMENT. 
As heretofore, the Park Department for the Borough of The 
Bronx, under Commissioner August Moebus, has pushed forward 
with all possible despatch the improvement work which has de- 
volved upon it. Not even one day has been lost unnecessarily by 
this department, and the development of the Park has been hast- 
ened in every possible way. The settlement of accounts between the 
Society and the Park Department has been prompt, and all plans 
laid before the Commissioner have been acted upon with gratify- 
ing despatch. Chief Engineer Martin Schenck has taken a lively 
personal interest’ in the Park and the Society’s work therein, and 
the interests of both the public and the Zoological Society have 
been greatly advanced and promoted by him. 
One of the most important items of the general work of the 
past year was the surfacing with trap-rock screenings and crushed 
gneiss top-dressing of all the walks in the Park, and the Service 
Road to the Reptile House. This gave a perfectly smooth sur- 
face, which is also dry everywhere, save in a few spots where spe- 
cial side drainage is necessary, and soon will be provided. 
On August 9th, a new contract for the erection of the Rocking 
Stone Restaurant (known officially as “‘ Public Comfort Building 
No. 1’) was let to Messrs. Ryan & McFerran, at $17,300, who 
immediately began work upon the building, and expect to com- 
plete it in a satisfactory manner on or before March 15, 1901. 
Messrs. Wm. H. Wright & Son erected a spacious Shelter Pa- 
vilion in front of the Wolf and Fox Dens in a very acceptable 
manner, for the sum of $3,800. On December 27, a contract was 
awarded to Wilbur T. Wright for the erection of the Service 
Building, at a cost of $12,900. 
On January 24, 1901, a contract for the erection of the Primates 
House, commonly known as the “ Monkey House,” was awarded 
to Thomas Cockerell & Son, at $59,700, and there is every reason 
to believe that the contract is in good hands. Active work on 
this building began on February 10, 1901, and it will undoubtedly 
be completed during the present year. 
