REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 87 



BOX'XDAKY OF THE PARK. 



The following legislation lias heen enacted affecting the boundaries of the park: 



For the purpose of opening Cathedral avenue in accordance with the highway 

 extension i)lans, the Secretary of the Interior is hereby authorized and directed to 

 convey all right and title of the United States in and to a parcel of land bounded on 

 the north l)y block two of the subdivision called Meridian Hill, and on the east by the 

 east line of said block two extended southward, and on the west by the east line of 

 Sixteenth street west, as said line is now extended and laid down through said block 

 two, and on the south by a line parallel to W street of the city of Washington and 

 distant ninety feet north from the south line of said W street, to the parties owning 

 a good and unincumbered title in fee simple to lots numbered twenty-two to twenty- 

 nine, botli inclusive, in block numbered five of the subdivision called Woodley Park, 

 ill the District of Columbia, containing about one hundred and three thousand five 

 hundretl scjuare feet of land, and adjoining the land of the United States embracing 

 the Zoological Park, upon the conveyance by said parties of the said lots to the 

 United States: Provided, That said lots in said Woodley Park, when so conveyed 

 to the United States, as aforesaid, shall become a part of the said Zoological Park and 

 shall be suliject to the inclusion of so much of the same on said Cathedral avenue as 

 may be necessarv for the purpose of opening the said avenue. (Sundrv civil act, 

 July 1, 1898.) 



For grading and regulating Cathedral avenue from Connecticut avenue to Woodley 

 road and tlie highway along the west border of the Zoological Park from Woodley 

 road to Cathedral avenue, as shown on the plan of the permanent system of high- 

 ways, third section, twenty-one thousand dollars: Provided, That parties interested 

 first deposit with tlie collector of taxes of the District of Columbia an equal sum to 

 be used toward defraying the cost of the work: And provided. That the full width of 

 the highway l;)or<lering the Zoological Park be donated to the District of Columbia 

 whenever it lies within the limits of Woodley Park. And the Commissioners of the 

 District of Columbia are hereby authorized to use as a highway so much of the Zoo- 

 logical Park as lies within the lines of said proposed highwav. (District act, June 6, 

 1900. ) 



A sketch map showing the several successive alterations of the boundary of the 

 park in this region is herewith appended. 



Removal of trees from Cathedral avenue. — It will be noted that the most recent legisla- 

 tion cedes to the District of Columbia a strip of ground required for Cathedral avenue. 

 This strip was planted during 1891 and 1892 with fine evergreen trees, which have 

 grown well and are now large and very valuable specimens. These have been care- 

 fully removed by special apparatus so as to disturb the roots as little as possible, and 

 replanted in various situations throughout the park where needed, at a cost of |1,100. 



The amount approi)riated for the park during the year was §75,000, of which $5,000 

 was for continuing the driveway along Eock Creek already mentioned and $5,000 for 

 widening the Adams Mill road near the entrance to the park. It will be remembered 

 that this road is partly without, partly within, the park. The terms of the act refer 

 to the portion without the park and are as follows: 



And five thousand dollars shall be expended in widening the Adams Mill road 

 entrance to the Zoological Park from the corner of Eighteenth street and Columbia 

 road, by acquiring by purchase or condemnation of land sufficient to widen the same 

 to a width of one hundred feet, and such road, so widened, shall form a parkway under 

 the control of the Zoological Park. (Sundry civil act, March 3, 1899. ) 



An estimated valuation of the property affected by the widening prescribed by 

 this act showed that the sum appropriated was far from adequate for its purchase. 

 It was also found that there would necessarih^ be some difficulty in placing a resi- 

 dential street under the control of the Zoological Park owing to the municipal regu- 

 lations concerning water, gas, sewers, etc. It was therefore deemed best to defer 

 action until the sense of Congress could be had concerning the matter. During the 

 last session the law was changed by the following legislation: 



The unexpended balance of the amounts, aggregating eight thousand dollars, here- 

 tofore appropriated for widening, grading and regulating Adams Mill road from 

 Columbia road to the -Zoological Park entrance is hereby reai^propriated, to be 



