TWENTIETH ANNUAL REPORT 89 



GENERAL MAINTENANCE WORK. 



Of general maintenance, the raising and distribution of food 

 supplies, the cleaning of walks, lawns and buildings, the collec- 

 tion and disposal of garbage, refuse, manure and ashes, and the 

 general upkeep of buildings, cages and fences, and the policing 

 of the grounds, were carried on much as heretofore, though for- 

 tunately we had the efficient help of a number of men supplied 

 absolutely free of charge by the Association for Improving the 

 Condition of the Poor. 



For a number of weeks these men were kept busy on the 

 lands east of Boston Road. During the present year we have 

 had from the Association for Improving the Condition of the 

 Poor, free labor to the extent of $3,798.25, which has helped us 

 most wonderfully in getting the area mentioned in proper con- 

 dition, and in keeping it clean. These men also dug the excava- 

 tion for the refrigerating room at the Boat House. They laid 

 the water-pipe to the new drinking fountain north of the Boat 

 House and erected the fountain; set posts for all of the refuse 

 boxes ; built a large stretch of guard rail and a retaining wall ; 

 did a great deal of grading, and of cutting out of dead, dangerous 

 and undesirable trees. They did all of the mowing and raking 

 of grass east of the Boston Road, and have dug out innumerable 

 plants of poison ivy. In short, they have done a great amount 

 of good and valuable work, and it would be a pity if it were 

 necessary to go without their help next year. It is to be hoped 

 that some arrangement can be made with this Association which 

 would be mutually profitable. The supervision of these men was 

 intrusted to our Special Patrolman, H. Van Benschoten, who 

 made an efficient foreman, but who, at the same time, did not 

 allow this work to interfere with his police duties, making dur- 

 in the year 44 arrests, obtaining a conviction in each case, 

 and co-operating in many instances with the city police, from 

 whom we obtained a great deal of help. 



DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATION. 

 H. R. Mitchell, Chief Clerk and Manager of Privileges; AVni. jNIitchell. Cashier. 



The Maintenance Fund allowed by the City for the year 

 1915 was the same as given us in 1914, and fortunately was 

 again granted in a lump sum, permitting its expenditure to the 

 best advantage. The special work to which Mr. Beebe, our Cu- 

 rator of Birds, had been detailed for several years having been 



