72 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY. 



engineer's most important task during the year has consisted in 

 laying out a new service yard, and preparing plans for the large 

 Storage Barn and Iron-workers' Shops already mentioned. 



Our engineer made a careful topographic survey of the un- 

 improved area outside the Zoological Park houndary and adja- 

 cent to our Southwest Entrance. This was submitted to I'ark 

 Commissioner Henry C. Schrader, with a request that the Park 

 Department blast out certain quantities of exposed rock, and 

 replace with top soil sufficient for the jiroper planting of that 

 area with trees and shrubs. 



During the year Mr. Beerlxiwer performed all the civil en- 

 gineering work in connection with the improvement of Baird 

 Court, and the building of the systeiu of conduits for the electric- 

 light cables and tele]:)hone-wires. 



DEPARTMENT OF PHOTOGRAPHY AND PUBLICATIONS. 



The work of Mr. E. R. Sanborn constantly increases, both 

 in volume and in value. In the photographing of Park mam- 

 mals, birds and reptiles, his work during 1904 has surpassed 

 that of any previous year, and his collection of animal photographs 

 has become one of the Society's valuable scientific possessions. 

 These pictures are of constant use in promoting public apprecia- 

 tion of the Society, and its work in gathering and exhibiting 

 animals. An im])()rtant series of illustrations of Zoological Park 

 animals will soon be i)ublished, if possible during 1905, in a 

 volume now in preparation by the director, for the special l)encfit 

 of the members of the Zoological Society. 



The time has now arrived when our photographer nnist be 

 supplied with a room and equipment for the printing and tuning 

 of phr)tographs, and a helper to assist in this line of work. It 

 is no longer desirable to have all our photographic prints made 

 at a distance of nine miles or more from our photographer's 

 negative-room, witli all the delays, l)reakagos and losses that 

 now are involved. 



GROl'ND IMPROVEMENTS. 



Por ]')(>4 the list of tasks acconi])lislu(l inider this head is a 

 very long one, and it is possible to refer to the various items only 

 in the briefest manner. .\s heretofore, the Commissioner of 



