SEVENTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 101 



Probably members do not realize that this work is not done 

 by any stereotyped methods. When any walks or other im- 

 provements are contemplated, surveys of all trees, buildings and 

 other controlling objects are made. These are platted lines 

 drawn to conform to the conditions, and these changed from 

 time to time until approved by the Executive Committee, the 

 Park Department Engineer, the Commissioner of Parks and 

 the City Landscape Architect. After all this, the work is staked 

 out accurately on the ground, elevations are taken and platted, 

 graceful undulations decided upon and all these marked upon 

 stakes to fit the topography. 



The Society may be interested in knowing of the economy 

 with which this department is run. All the work is done by the 

 one engineer, personally — except work done in the field, when 

 one or more assistants are required. These are detailed from the 

 ranks of unskilled laborers. In the City departments, regular 

 staffs of assistant engineers, rodmen and chainmen are main- 

 tained for work of this kind. 



CONTRACT WORK IN GROUND IMPROVEMENTS. 



Conducted under the direction of the Park Department of the Borough of the 

 Bronx. Thomas J. Higgins, Commissioaier ; Martin Schenck, Chief Engineer. 



Contracts Completed During 1912. — Two improvement con- 

 tracts were completed by the Society during the past year. The 

 Eagle and Vulture Aviary, erected by George Hilderbrand at a 

 cost of $18,867, was completed early in the autumn, and im- 

 mediately occupied. This contract included a spacious winter 

 shelter house for tropical birds of prey, which is quite indispen- 

 sable to this collection. The Zebra House, erected by Joseph 

 Balaban, at a cost of $25,181, was completed and occupied on 

 November 15th. It is fully described in the Zoological Society 

 Bulletin for January, 1913. 



A Pelican House of brick and glass, to replace the old tem- 

 porary wooden structure that was ready to fall down from de- 

 cay, was erected in the Service Yard by Joseph E. Dobbs at a 

 cost of $4,045. Naturally this good structure is a source of great 

 satisfaction to the curators of birds. 



The following new contracts were executed in 1912: 



Workshop Building. — In the Service Yard, in the rear of 

 the Service Building, there is now being erected by A. V. John- 

 son & Company, at a cost of $23,895, a permanent two-story 



