70 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1037 



W. P. A. It is anticipated that the building will be occupied by 

 animals late in the summer of 1937. 



The structure is about 227 by 90 feet and is designed to accommodate 

 elephants, rhinos, hippos, pigmy hippos, tapirs, and giraffes, for 

 whicli it has 13 inside cages ranging in size from 12 by 19 feet to 

 22 by 58 feet. Several of the inside cages have pools, and each 

 cage connects with an outside yard in which the animals are re- 

 tained by dry moats in lieu of fences. The design of the building is 

 simple, well proportioned, and beautiful. The public space is 30 by 

 165 feet, and the sound-deadening effect of the acoustical tile on the 

 ceiling produces a highly satisfactory condition. The walls of the 

 cages for the hijjpo, African and Indian elephants, and giraffe have 

 been painted with appropriate backgi'ounds by artists of the Treasury 

 art relief project. 



The addition to the bird house, 43 by 133 feet, was completed in 

 November 1936. Tliis wing contains 27 glass-fronted cages, one of 

 wliich has insulated walls and a glass top and is provided with a re- 

 frigeration system which makes it a well-lighted cold storage room. 

 This was stocked with penguins, which are thriving in the uniform 

 temperature of 63° F. The backs of a number of the cages, including 

 that of the penguin room, have been decorated with scenes representing 

 various geographical regions, which greatly enhances the attrac- 

 tiveness of the exhibits. The art work was done by the Treasury 

 art relief project. 



The installation of new boilers in the central heating plant was 

 completed late in the summer of 1936, and the plant was used during 

 the winter of 1936-7. 



The mechanical shop building is of stone, 61 by 100 feet, 2 stories ; 

 the lower story accommodates a stockroom and iron and machine 

 work, and the upper story is mainly for carpentry work. The im- 

 proved facilities provided by this have permitted much greater effi- 

 ciency of operations in the maintenance of the Park than had been 

 possible heretofore. 



The stone garage, 56 by 64 feet, was built near the boiler room 

 and completed late in the sununer of 1936. 



From July 1, 1936, until January 27, 1937, a small and diminishing 

 group of W. P. A. laborers was available for miscellaneous work 

 about the Parle. With this labor a variety of work was accomplished, 

 including repairing and resurfacing some roads and walks. A trench 

 600 feet long was dug for the laying of electric conduit from the 

 bird house to the large mammal house. Trenches also were dug 

 for the laying of about 600 feet of sanitary sewers and drains. More 

 than 400 cubic yards of sand was hauled from the creek bed, cleaned 

 and screened for use in concrete work. Miscellaneous grading was 



