74 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1945 



of the buildings and grounds. Prior to the war, when the personnel 

 had IY2 days off during the week, the Zoo was short-handed. Now 

 that there is such an accumulation of work, this condition is much 

 more noticeable, and when the 40-hour week goes into effect it will be 

 even worse. 



A large backlog of work exists in connection with the restoration 

 of the Park buildings, fences, and other structures. Also, the Park 

 has always been insufficiently policed. A force of 14 policemen is 

 not large enough to patrol an area of 175 acres and to guard the Gov- 

 ernment buildings and property now in the Park. 



The office building now in use is a historic structure built about 

 1805 but of which little is known prior to 1827. It was used as a 

 residence from then until 1890, when it was taken over by the Park as 

 an office. It is obsolete for an administration building. The fire 

 hazard is considerable and our records and our library are not safe. 

 The barn and garage adjacent to the office building is an ancient frame 

 structure. Modernization of these two buildings would greatly facil- 

 itate the work of the office. 



It is hoped that the Zoo may continue the building program that 

 was interrupted by the war and replace with modern structures the 

 old unsanitary monkey house, lion house, and antelope house. 



VISITORS 



There is an increase in the number of visitors, including schools and 

 excursion parties, and it is expected that this increase will continue 

 owing to greater interest in the Zoo and to easier transportation 

 facilities. 



A tabulation of cars parked in the Zoo during the fiscal year 1945 

 shows the following percentage of visitors by States: 



Percent Percent 



Washington, D. C 36 North Carolina 1.3 



Maryland 24.6 New Jersey 1.2 



Virginia 16.1 California 1.15 



Pennsylvania 3. 3 Ohio 1. 1 



New York 2.3 



The cars that made up the remaining 12.95 percent came from every 

 one of the remaining States, and from the following territories and 

 countries: Canal Zone, Hawaii, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, Cuba, 

 Mexico. 



NUMBER OF VISITORS 



July 217,300 February 138, S00 



August 189,550 March 248,700 



September 181, 100 April 275, 164 



October 200, 500 May 159, 650 



November 152, 520 June 185, 200 



December 85, 900 



January 72,700 Total 2,355,514 



