EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL REPORT 49 



special tile required. The roof has been made watertight, how- 

 ever, and after the recent heavy rains, a close examinatioi? 

 failed to disclose any leaks. 



NEW AQUARIUM. 



The City Authorities having definitely announced the policy 

 of not proceeding with construction work of the character of 

 the proposed New Aquarium, your committee at once took steps 

 to secure proper compensation for the architects for their work 

 in the preparation of the plans, &c. The sum of $26,250 was 

 agreed upon for this purpose, which includes all engineering 

 fees, and an application for this amount was made to the City in 

 behalf of the architects. In this adjustment the Society is also 

 to be reimbursed for expenses incurred in the preparation of 

 the model, survey, and other items, to the extent of $1,850.00. 



A contract between the City of New York and Barney & 

 Colt, in the amount of $26,250 for their services, including the 

 fees of the engineer, Mr. William Barclay Parsons, has been 

 executed by both parties, and the money paid. The plans have 

 been listed, sealed and filed with the Park Commissioner of the 

 Borough of Manhattan, with the notation that they can only 

 be used after written notice to the Society, and in accordance 

 with the terms of the existing contract between the Society and 

 the City. The Society has also been reimbursed for expenses 

 incurred. 



This closes the entire matter of the proposed new Aqua- 

 rium for the time being, and relieves the Society and the City 

 from all legal or moral obligations for services in connection 

 therewith, now or in the future, based on these plans. 



After the above charges were paid the balance of the orig- 

 inal appropriation of $200,000, made in 1911, was rescinded. 



AQUARIUM IMPROVEMENT FUND. 



During the year a balance of $344.50 standing to the credit 

 of the Society for necessary improvements at the Aquarium 

 was rescinded by the City Authorities, in accordance with the de- 

 clared policy of the comptroller to rescind unexpended balances 

 of long standing. 



BISON FOR WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK. 



In 1912, Dr. Franklin W. Hooper, President of the Ameri- 

 can Bison Society, inaugurated in the name of that Society, a 



