TWENTY-SIXTH ANNUAL REPORT 87 



A new soda stand is imperatively needed at the present 

 location in front of the Reptile House. The existing 

 stand is an open, frame structure built twenty years 

 ago when the attendance was one-fifth what it is today. 

 The fountain equipment was installed fifteen years ago 

 and has for several years been in an almost unusable 

 condition. A small but substantial and artistic building 

 should be erected at this location to afford proper pro- 

 tection for the equipment required to give suitable ser- 

 vice now and in the future. 



A concrete platform around the stand at the Bear Dens 

 to replace the wooden one that has now been entirely 

 destroyed and removed. 



Riding Animals: 



Removal of the riding animal business from its present 

 location on the Service Road near the Bird House to a 

 more suitable place where it can be handled so as not 

 to interfere in any way with foot traffic on existing 

 walks or roads. 



Heretofore, provisions for the handling of Park privileges 

 have been made more or less hastily to meet the pressing de- 

 mands of rapidly increasing attendance, and often have been of 

 a temporary or inadequate nature. We now must look forward 

 to an annual attendance of three millions within two or three 

 years, and perhaps four or five millions in ten or twelve years. 

 With these constantly increasing demands for service, replace- 

 ments as they become necessary should be of the most substan- 

 tial character, setting the standard for privilege purposes among 

 the parks of the country. 



Rocking Stone Restaurant: — The gross business and the 

 class of service rendered at the Rocking Stone Restaurant showed 

 an improvement over the previous year. Our experiment of 

 trying to reduce expenses during the winter of the previous 

 year by operating without the services of a chef was not satis- 

 factory. The gain that is made in winter operation seems to be 

 lost in finding the right man and in getting things running 

 smoothly before the busy part of the season. The loss of last 

 year was converted into a modest profit. 



