G2 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL, SOCIETY. 
the crops obtained were quite as abundant as could fairly be 
expected. The total results were as follows: 
60 tons hay, 5,500 heads cabbage, 
100 bbls. potatoes, goo pumpkins, 
175 bu. sweet corn, 80 bbls. turnips. 
Wood for Fuel.—During the coal famine all the dead wood 
that had been cut out of the forests and accumulated during the 
past two years, to the extent of about 50 cords, was sawed, split, 
and consumed in the furnaces of the animal buildings, thus saving 
several hundred dollars’ worth of coal. 
Grading and Seeding.—The borders of the new sections of 
the motor road, the borders of all new walks, and the lines of 
the trunk sewers and water lines, about 42,000 square feet in 
all, were graded and seeded. 
PERMANENT GROUND IMPROVEMENTS.—Hermann W. Merkel, 
Chief Constructor. 
By the consent of Park Commissioner John E. Eustis, the mis- 
cellaneous ground improvements provided for in the bond issue 
authorized on May 19th, 1902, were carried out under the di- 
rection of the Zoological Society and officers of the Park staff. 
The results previously achieved on this plan have demonstrated 
that for many kinds of work it is more economical, and far more 
satisfactory in results than would be possible under the contract 
system. 
Addition to the Bear-dens—The growth of the bear collec- 
tion rendered it imperatively necessary to increase the accommo- 
dations for those animals, and the success of the original series 
of bear-dens justified the completion of the series by the erection 
of four new dens, as originally planned. As previously stated, 
the plans and specifications for this improvement were prepared 
by the Society’s Engineer, Mr. Beerbower, and the masonry con- 
struction was performed by the Zoological Park force, working 
under the direction of Mr. Merkel. 
The presence on the site of these dens of several valuable trees 
—some of them standing on sloping banks of earth—rendered it 
necessary to build for two cages an elevated concrete floor, to 
provide for the roots of the trees a proper air space, and to avoid 
disturbing their roots. The presence of a number of immense 
granite blocks which had broken away from the main ledge sug- 
gested their utilization in the construction of the sleeping-dens. 
