tiiirti:kxt[i a.\xl-.\i. ki-.i-ori- 



83 



the same a> the previous year, notwiihstamliiis;- the fact that the 

 cost of operation was somewhat increased owing to the removal 

 of the soda stand at this location, and the consequent necessity 

 of maintaining- a separate cashier for the ri(hng animal husiness. 



Tov/ard the close of the season the female elephant ''Luna" 

 was purchased from the Luna I'ark Company at Coney Island, 

 with the intention of using her as a riding animal, but we discov- 

 ered that she is so nervous and obstinate it was not considered 

 wise to make any attempt to utilize her as a riding elephant. She 

 will be used for exhibition only. 



Gate Receipts. — As the Park attendance increases on free day^, 

 a proportionate gain has been made in the receipts from admis- 

 sions on pay days. The year 1908 was no exception in this par- 

 ticular. Many visitors seemed to find it desirable to come to the 

 I'ark (in pay days, in order to see the collections without the an- 

 noyance of enc(nnitering the crowds present on other davs. 



di-:part.mext of ci\ il excixkkrixc. 



George M. Bcerbower, Civil Engineer. 



Our Engineer's most important work during 1908 was the 

 constant and at times continuous ins])ection and superintendence 

 of the erection of the steel fences and gates of the ten large yards 

 surrounding the Elephant House. The plans and specifications 

 for this w^ork were made by ^Ir. Beerbower in 1907. and on them 

 a contract was let to the AIcHarg-Barton Construction Company 

 at $13,700. The contract provided for the erection of the fences 

 and all copings underneath them, as well as for their manufac- 

 ture. To resist the attacks of adult elephants the gates and fences 

 required to be built to withstand blows or pressure of at least 

 5.0Q0 pounds delivered at their weakest point. This, of course, 

 calls for very strong steel posts, set deeply in solid concrete, and 

 connected by horizontal rails of steel so heavy that no elephant 

 can bend them. To run such heavy fences over verv uneven 

 grotmd. and secure a result that is sufftciently strong and at the 

 same time not positively offensive to the eye, is a verv difficult 

 task. 



The work of setting the posts, and constructing the concrete 

 copings, proved to be very vexatiotis. r>y the ]\IcHarg-Barton 

 Company all this work was let to a sub-contractor. Li order to 

 secure honest and correct work from dishonest and tricky labor- 

 ers who sought by every possible means to make improper, worth- 

 less work pass as "good." Mr. Beerbower was obliged to watch 



