APPENDIX III. 
REPORT OF THE ACTING MANAGER OF THE NATIONAL ZOOLOGICAL 
PARK. 
Smr: I have the honor to submit the following report of the operations of the 
National Zoological Park for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1891. 
At the opening of the year the land for the park was not yet all acquired. Steps 
were taken to expedite the final acquisition as much as possible, yet it was not until 
November 4, 1890, that possession was finally obtained of the entire tract. 
In the mean time arrangements were made to repair the old Holt mansion, situated 
upon the left bank of the creek, in such a manner as to fit it for occupation as an 
office for the park. The old building was found to require much more extensive re- 
pairs than were anticipated. It is a long, low structure, built rather for coolness 
and country retirement than for purposes of business activity; and the walls, al- 
though thick, were found to be cracked and crumbling, and the foundations to be 
highly insecure. Before anything else could be done several of the walls had to be 
replaced and new foundations laid. This consumed the greater part of the appro- 
priation and it was only possible to finish two rooms to be occupied as an office. A 
small barn with stable was built near the house for the accommodation of the horses 
required for the park service. 
An inclosure of the park being found imperatively necessary, a design for a fence 
was made by Mr. W. R. Emerson and this was erected as fast as the land was finally 
acquired by the United States. It is of stout, unpainted, oak palings, intended not 
so much to regulate the movements of the public as to keep out dogs and animals 
injurious to the creatures in the inclosure. 
As a preliminary to the laying out of roads and selecting sites for buildings, Mr. D. 
J. Howell was employed to make an accurate topographical survey of the park. The 
topographical work of the Coast Survey was used as a basis for this, the contours 
being carefully corrected and the highest levels reached by the water in Rock Creek 
being noted wherever it was possible to ascertain them, 
For reasons of economy it was thought best to lay out for the present but a single 
road, which should cross Rock Creek on a continuation of the so-called Quarry road, 
which lies mainly outside the gates. This main road within the park was staked out 
to a width of 30 feet, and has been carefully graded and macadamized for a distance 
of some 3,000 feet from the entrance. Beyond this a road, formerly a cart track, 
leads through the park to the western boundary, and has been somewhat improved 
for its entire length to afford some partial access for carriages in this direction. 
The ‘‘creek,” so called( which it will be remembered is really a quick-running stream), 
is ordinarily fordable at a point near that where the road crosses, but this ford is im- 
passable in times of flood, and extraordinary precautions had to be taken to secure a 
crossing above high-water mark, the narrowness of the stream and the precipitous 
character of the surrounding hills which it drains making it necessary to provide 
for arise of at least 15 feet. Thusa “fill” of considerable extent was required on 
both approaches to the bridge, a condition that greatly increased the expense and 
labor of making the road. 
Measures were at once taken to erect a bridge suitable for foot passengers and 
carriages. Several plans for such astructure were submitted, examined and rejected, 
48 
