96 NEW YORK ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 



ties now causing delays soon will be overcome, and that the 

 building will be finished so that full benefit will be had from it 

 during the coming season. 



It had not been our original plan to install at once an en- 

 gine for supplying power for this building, but as construction 

 went forward it was realized there would be very great diflfi- 

 culty in getting an engine of suitable size into the engine-room 

 after the building was completed, and so the immediate purchase 

 and installation of an engine was decided upon. A fifty h. p. 

 engine was purchased and installed, and power has been sup- 

 plied by this means since October 14. 



While the plant has not been operated to its full capacity 

 since that time, sufficient experience has been gained to demon- 

 strate the extreme economy of this kind of power as compared 

 with the use of electricity purchased from the lighting com- 

 panies. 



Rocking Stone Restaurant. — The additions to both winter 

 and summer dining-rooms at the Rocking Stone Restaurant, 

 completed in 1912, have been followed by necessary improve- 

 ments in the kitchen, which have greatly improved the service. 

 A small steam boiler was installed in the basement which fur- 

 nishes steam for the dishwasher, plate-warmer and coffee urns. 



A good equipment of awnings was provided for the new 

 outdoor dining-room, which added very greatly both to its at- 

 tractiveness and the comfort of guests. 



The service yard for kitchen deliveries was enlarged to 

 about double its original size by blasting away the rock ledge to 

 the west, and also carrying it to the north a considerable dis- 

 tance. 



On account of the extension toward the west, Mr. Merkel 

 thought it necessary to remove the walk previously entering the 

 Lunch Room on the south side and plant out the spaces. This 

 arrangement so concealed the Lunch Room as to seriously affect 

 its business for the season. However, this was partially over- 

 come by the enlargement of the dining pavilion. 



There is now no general thoroughfare passing the Restaur- 

 ant. Almost all through traflfic either goes up the Buffalo Hill 

 to the left of the steps or continues along the walk toward 

 Beaver Valley. The restaurant signs are small, being readable 

 only at a short distance. The result is that many visitors do 

 not easily succeed in finding the Restaurant. 



