TWENTY-FIRST ANNUAL REPORT 41 



Mr. Chapman Grant resigned during the year and re-entered 

 the United States Army. 



An application for $90,000 for needed alterations to the 

 Aquarium, was made to the Board of Estimate and Apportion- 

 ment, but owing to the financial condition of the City there is 

 no possibility of favorable action within the next few years. 

 The proposed alterations provide for the transfer of the ma- 

 chinery from its present unsanitary quarters to the basement 

 under what is now the front entrance. This would put our engi- 

 neers in dry and safe quarters, instead of their present exposure 

 to high tides which sometimes rise 18 inches in the fire room, 

 requiring our men to stand in water while at work, and threat- 

 ening to extinguish the fires. The space made vacant by the 

 removal of the machinery will be utilized for the installation of 

 new and deep tanks, adding nearly 20% to the exhibition space 

 of the Aquarium building. A new story will be added to the 

 front of the building, which will be devoted to administration 

 and scientific work. The success of the tanks, already deepened, 

 indicate that these comparatively economical alterations (cost- 

 ing less than $100,000), would greatly add to the sanitary con- 

 ditions of the present building and to the great increase in the 

 number and attractiveness of the exhibits. 



MAINTENANCE. 



The sum of $197,074.35 was provided by the City for the 

 maintenance of the Zoological Park for the year 1916, being 

 $3,000 less than the maintenance for the preceding year. This 

 amount was insufficient for the proper upkeep of the Park. Al- 

 though the year closed without a deficit in this fund, it was 

 accomplished only by taking from the Animal Fund nearly $10,- 

 000, which was absolutely required for repairs to buildings. 

 After strenuous protest by the Society, the appropriation for 

 1917 was somewhat increased, and the sum of $199,560 was 

 provided. This amount does not and cannot provide an allow- 

 ance for repairs, which are yearly becoming an increasing bur- 

 den. It also makes no provision for the lO'^r increase in the pay 

 of the low-salaried employees to correspond with the increase 

 granted by the City in their other departments. 



The Society feels that its employees have been discriminated 

 against by the City in this failure to recognize the increased 



