REPORT OF THE DIRECTOR 



OF THE 



ZOOLOGICAL PARK 



TO THE BOARD OF MANAGERS. 



IN our general scheme of development, the year just closed 

 has witnessed the greatest activity and progress of any year 

 since 1899. At no previous time has the administrative machin- 

 ery of the Park been in more perfect w^orking order, or so fruit- 

 ful of results in proportion to the efforts and expenditures put 

 forth. In anticipation of the great increase in attendance that 

 seems likely to follow the completion of the Interborough Rail- 

 way line to the West Farms Entrance of the Zoological Park, 

 special efforts were put forth to carry the improvement of the 

 Park as far as possible toward completion. More buildings and 

 collections are needed, and new walks leading to them must be 

 built as rapidly as possible. Animals are constantly accumulat- 

 ing faster than exhibition facilities can be provided for them, 

 and one of our chief sources of worry is in providing for a surplus 

 of valuable animals with which we are unwilling to part. 



DEPARTMENTAL RELATIONS. 



Throughout the year 1904 the Zoological Park continued to 

 enjoy the friendship and assistance of the Mayor, the Comptroller, 

 and the Board of Estimate and Apportionment; and the Com- 

 missioner, Engineer, and Chief Clerk of the Park Department 

 of Bronx Borough. Captain Jefferson Deevy, in command of 

 the Forty-first Precinct, Metropolitan Police, very kindly did 

 everything in his power to promote the successful operation of 

 the Zoological Park, and to protect impartially the interests of the 

 public and of the Zoological Society. The police service of 

 the Park was admirably maintained, but on a strictly economical 

 basis. A number of arrests were made during the year, and in 



