88 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION 

 H. K. Mitchell, Chief Clerk ciiid Manager; William Mitchell, Cashier. 



For several years this department has been greatly in need 

 of additional office room. The rooms originally assigned for the 

 use of the Chief Clerk and his office force had become entirely 

 inadequate. When the Director moved to the new Administra- 

 tion Building, late in the year, his previous quarters became 

 available for the use of this department. Advantage was taken 

 of the opportunity to have the entire office re-arranged. One of 

 the new rooms has been fitted up for the use of cashiers and gate- 

 men in making their daily reports and settlements. Heretofore 

 there has been no place available for this purpose except the 

 small, cramped lobby in the general office. With the additional 

 room now available for this department, all its office work will 

 be greatly facilitated. 



Privileges. — The Hudson-Fulton Celebration, during the fall 

 of 1909, brought thousands of strangers to the city, many of 

 whom visited the Park during their stay, and thereby materially 

 increased the privilege business of that year. 



Notwithstanding a falling off of about 173,000 in visitors at 

 the Park during 1910, as compared with the previous year, we 

 were able to show a considerable increase in net profits from 

 privileges. This result was secured only by the strictest care, 

 and many new economies in all branches of operation and pro- 

 duction. 



Our transportation equipment for the distribution of privi- 

 lege supplies, and for the general work of the department, had 

 become so seriously inadequate that it was necessary to improve 

 it, early in the year, by the purchase of a one-ton electric auto- 

 mobile truck. Even with this addition, the service was taxed to 

 its utmost during the summer season. Another automobile, 

 either electric or gasoline, will undoubtedly have to be added in 

 the spring of 1911. 



An impression of the rapid growth of the privilege business 

 may be gained from the fact that about seven years ago the en- 

 tire service of the department was handled with one two-wheeled 

 push-cart. 



The following table, showing the annual increase in the net 

 profits in privileges for the past five seasons, will further serve to 

 demonstrate the rapidity of their growth and development. 



