84. ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1914. 
MAINTENANCE OF BUILDINGS, INCLOSURES, GROUNDS, ETC. 
Considerable repairs had to be made to some of the buildings and 
inclosures, including new roof covering on part of the lion house and 
the rebuilding of the fence around the elk paddock, and a portion of 
the retaining wall above the bear yards on the eastern side of the park 
was rebuilt where it had been undermined by the weathering of the 
rock below. 
A severe storm on July 30, 1918, destroyed a number of large trees 
and caused serious damage throughout the park. The cost of remoy- 
ing the débris and restoring the park to its normal condition was 
about $1,500. 
BRIDGE. 
The construction of the “rough stone or bowlder bridge” across 
Rock Creek, which was mentioned in the last annual report, pro- 
ceeded in a satisfactory manner. The contract for the excavation 
and masonry work was secured by the lowest bidder, the Warren F. 
Brenizer Co. The plans and specifications were prepared by David 
E. McComb, engineer of bridges, District of Columbia, and it was 
thought best that the supervising engineer and the inspector of the 
work should be persons recommended by him. Mr. W. A. Draper 
was accordingly employed as engineer and Mr. Wilham Champion as 
inspector. No obstacles of any importance were met with during 
the progress of the work, though it was found that the excavation 
required for the piers was somewhat greater than had been antici- 
pated. The bridge was opened for travel on November 1, 1913. As 
there was a heavy fill of earth over the stone masonry, it was neces- 
sary to defer the construction of the macadam surface and concrete 
sidewalk until spring. This also was satisfactorily completed during 
June, 1914. 
The following is a statement of the expenditures from the appro- 
priation of $20,000: 
Expenditures prior to July 1, 1913 (all outside of contract for excava- 
LsLCOTNN DIN GL 10S VTA Ty) ase ee ee ee $1, 776 
Motal payments under: contract: 22 == =e eee 10, 914 
Expenditures during this fiscal year (outside of contract) —____________ 5, 158 
17, 848 
Since the close of the fiscal year expenditures and liabilities have 
been incurred, amounting to $335, for restoring and perfecting the 
approaches to the bridge. The total expenditures to date are there- 
fore $18,183. 
ALTERATION OF THE WEST BOUNDARY OF THE PARK. 
The sundry civil act for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1914, con- 
tained the following item: 
Readjustment of boundaries: For acquiring, by condemnation, all the lots, 
pieces, or parcels of land, other than the one hereinafter excepted, that lie 
