1338 CONGRESSIONAL PROCEEDINGS. 
ExnHisit A. 
OFFICE OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF THE ZOOLOGICAL PARK, 
SMITHSONIAN InstITUTION, 
Washington, D. C., April 15, 1889. 
Sr: In accordance with an act of Congress approved March 2, 1889 (Public, No. 
113), for the establishment of a zoological park in the District of Columbia, the com- 
missioners created by this act, and charged with the duty of its fulfillment, give 
notice that they have been ‘‘authorized and directed to make an inspection of the 
country along Rock Creek, between Massachusetts avenue extended and where said 
creek is crossed by the road leading west from Brightwood (commonly known as the 
Military road), and to select from that district of country such a tract of land, of not 
less than 100 acres, which shall include a section of the creek, as said commission 
shall deem to be suitable and appropriate for a zoological park.’’ 
They further give notice that the act declares: 
‘‘That the said commission shall cause to be made a careful map of said zoological 
park, showing the location, quantity, and character of each parcel of private property 
to be taken for such purpose, with the names of the respective owners inscribed 
thereon, and the said map shall be filed and recorded in the public records of the 
District of Columbia; and from and after that date the several tracts and parcels of 
land embraced in such zoological park shall be held as condemned for public uses, 
subject to the payment of just compensation, to be determined by the said commis- 
sion and approved by the President of the United States, provided that such com- 
pensation be accepted by the owner or owners of the several parcels of land. 
‘‘That if the said commission shall be unable to purchase any portion of the land 
so selected and condemned within thirty days after such condemnation, by agree- 
ment with the respective owners, at the price approved by the President of the United 
States, it shall, at the expiration of such period of thirty days, make application to 
the supreme court of the District of Columbia, by petition, at a general or special 
term, for an assessment of the value of such land, and said petition shall contain a 
particular description of the property selected and condemned, with the name of the 
owner or owners thereof, and his, her, or their residences, as far as the same may be 
ascertained, together with a copy of the recorded map of the park; and the said 
court is hereby authorized and required, upon such application, without delay, to 
notify the owners and occupants of the land and to ascertain and assess the value of 
the land so selected and condemned by appointing three commissioners to appraise 
the value or values thereof, and to return the appraisement to the court; and when 
the values of such land are thus ascertained, and the President shall deem the same 
reasonable, said values shall be paid to the owner or owners, and: the United States 
shall be deemed to have a valid title to said lands.”’ 
In view of the desirability, in selecting said site, of taking into account the value 
of the various parcels of land which the commission has the power to include, the 
commissioners hereby invite you, as an owner of property in the region indicated, to 
furnish them not later than May 1, 1889, with a written statement of the lowest price 
at which you will agree to sell, for the purpose named above, the following-described 
real estate, which they understand is owned by you, viz: 
There is open for inspection in this office, between the hours of 2 and 4p. m., a map 
showing the Rock Creek region, on which are laid down the names of real estate 
holders, and the bounds and contents of their properties, so far as these are known. 
to the commissioners. 
JoHN W. Nos ez, 
Secretary of the Interior, 
Wiu1am B. Wess, 
Pres. Board Com. Dis. Col., 
S. P. LANGLEy, 
Secretary Smithsonian Institution, 
? Commissioners. 
Referred to Committee on Appropriations. 
